By Mah Alam

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, July 16, 2025 (BSS) - Jahangirnagar University (JU) became the first public university to drive out the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the now-banned Awami League, amid the nationwide July Uprising. 

A series of student-led protests, ignited by a violent incident at a campus dormitory, culminated in the complete retreat of BCL from the campus setting a precedent that inspired similar actions nationwide.

The first sparks of resistance were lit in the early hours of July 14 last year, when two protesters chanted slogans "Tumi Ke, Ami Ke? Razakar!, Razakar!" in front of Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall. 

Their protest came in response to controversial remarks by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had said, "If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, should the grandchildren of Razakars get the benefit?"

BCL leaders at the hall responded by violently detaining and beating the students. The victim of the incident, Kauser Alam Arman, a postgraduate student in the Botany Department, recounted being dragged to the dining room, beaten for over an hour and having his phone searched on suspicion of links with 'Shibir'. Four other students were similarly assaulted.

"When Provost Prof. Nazmul Hassan Talukdar arrived, BCL men checked my phone again in his presence. The provost even scolded me instead of intervening," said Arman.

News of the incident rapidly spread through social media, triggering outrage across the campus.

By midnight, hundreds of students had assembled at the dormitory premises, chanting slogans against BCL and the administration, demanding accountability and calling for the release of CCTV footage, an appeal that the provost refused.

Tensions boiled over when BCL members confronted the demonstrators near the dorm. The clash left two students, including a security official, injured and deepened the unrest surrounding the quota reform protests.

Ahsan Labib, an undergraduate in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering who was injured in the clash, recalled, "BCL members attacked us outside Rabindranath Tagore Hall. We resisted and eventually, they had to retreat."

By dawn on July 15, pro-administration teachers led by then Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mostafa Feeroze visited the scene. Hall provost announced his resignation amid the backlash. But as the sun set, the campus was about to descend into the darkest night in its history.

At around 6:30 pm, a peaceful procession demanding quota reform began at the Central Library.

By 7:30 pm, as the march passed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall (now Hall No. 10), BCL activists, led by JU BCL President Aktaruzzaman Sohel and General Secretary Habibur Rahman Liton, launched a sudden and brutal attack. At least 50 students, a teacher and a journalist were injured.

Fahmida Faiza, a postgraduate student of Government and Politics department, said, "Two BCL members struck me from behind with sticks. They continued beating us in front of security officers and the proctor."

As the injured were taken to the Medical Centre, students gathered at the campus Shaheed Minar and later marched to the vice-chancellor's residence, demanding justice. 

Around 10:30 pm, VC Prof. Nurul Alam and several officials spoke with the protesters but failed to offer any concrete assurances.

"They said they'd review footage to identify the attackers but gave no real commitment," said Tanjim Ahmed, General Secretary of JU Chhatra Union.

As the night progressed, the campus plunged into chaos. Around midnight, BCL leaders reportedly brought in armed outsiders, allegedly linked to the Awami League and its affiliated forces, arriving in pickup vans from nearby areas like Gerua, Jamsingh, Ashulia and Savar.

"I showed video evidence of the armed outsiders to the VC, Proctor and a former proctor. Police were stationed at the gates, but the administration did nothing," said Prof. Dr. Mohammad Golam Rabbani from the History Department.

At 12:50 am, over 150 helmeted attackers armed with bricks, bottles and petrol bombs gathered at the VC's residence. They broke through the gates and launched a coordinated assault on the students and teachers sheltering inside.

Campus reporters positioned near the Pro-VC's residence witnessed the attack. Eyewitnesses alleged that the police, though present, did not initially resist the intruders. Videos and photos of the assault rapidly went viral.

One of the students trapped inside, Journalism and Media Studies undergraduate Maliha Namlah, recalled the horror moments.

"They tried to drag us outside to beat us. We were terrified. I went live on Facebook to plead for help. The video went viral, with over 4.6 million views. Thousands of students rushed to our rescue," she said.

As masses of students converged, the BCL attackers fled. However, the police then fired tear gas, rubber bullets and batons on the rescuers, injured more than 100 people, including students, teachers and journalists.

Prof. Dr. Kh. Lutful Elahi of the History Department, who was inside the VC's residence, said, "When the students came to rescue us, the police opened fire. I was hit by multiple pellets in the face and collapsed."

Arifuzzaman Uzzal, former president of the JU Journalists' Association, recounted how journalists were also targeted.

"We were doing our job. When we tried to leave the Pro-VC's residence, BCL members abused and attacked us. Police even fired at us despite our press cards and raised hands. Some of our colleagues were seriously injured."

Uzzal added, "That night marked the turning point. From that moment, Chhatra League never returned to this campus."

Current JU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, who was among the teachers trapped inside, said, "I was trapped inside the VC's residence while trying to rescue the students. It was a harrowing experience. The students who came to save us were like rescuers pulling prey from the clutches of wild beasts."

He said that Jahangirnagar University played a pioneering role in the ouster of Chhatra League from university campuses across the country.

Prof. Kamrul expressed optimism that those responsible including teachers, officials and BCL leaders would soon face justice.