The academic community at Rajshahi University (RU) has been unsettled by reports of physical threats directed at a senior official by a prominent student political leader. Dr Amirul Islam Kanak, the university’s Student Adviser, was allegedly threatened with physical violence by Shariful Islam, the Vice-President of the university’s unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BJCD). The incident, which unfolded via a series of social media interactions on Friday, 24 April 2026, has drawn sharp criticism from students and faculty alike.
Shariful Islam, a student of the 2013-14 academic session in the Department of Anthropology originally from Bogura, posted a comment on the Adviser’s Facebook profile stating: “Conduct yourself as a teacher should; otherwise, you will be struck across the ear.” This remark was the culmination of an escalating digital argument concerning administrative accountability and previous political conduct.
Chronology of the Social Media Altercation
The dispute originated from a post authored by Dr Kanak, in which he reflected on the casualties of the 2024 mass uprising. He observed: “Fifteen hundred lives were lost and thirty thousand were injured to free us from the ‘vultures’. Yet, no one has a plan for building a life. Instead, we see the infighting of ‘dogs’ and ‘vultures’.”
The BJCD leader, Shariful Islam, challenged this perspective by questioning the administration’s perceived passivity during recent instances of campus unrest. He asked: “What were you doing in your administrative capacity while ‘mobs’ were occurring consecutively at the university?”
The exchange took a personal turn when Dr Kanak responded with a disparaging metaphor: “I am feeding grass to sheep like you.” This prompted the final, more direct threat of physical assault from Islam. Screenshots of the interaction were widely circulated across social media platforms, leading to an immediate outcry on campus.
Institutional Condemnation and Student Response
The threat against a high-ranking academic has been described as a severe breach of the master-student relationship and academic etiquette. Imran Laskar, the Debate and Literature Secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU), voiced his support for the Student Adviser, identifying him as a key figure of the July uprising who has consistently advocated for justice. Laskar termed the public intimidation “deeply regrettable.”
In a formal capacity, the Bangladesh Student Federation’s RU branch issued a press release condemning Islam’s “audacious” conduct. The federation has urged the university authorities to conduct a formal inquiry and ensure that “exemplary punishment” is administered to uphold the dignity of the teaching profession.
Divergent Accounts from the Involved Parties
Reflecting on the incident, Dr Amirul Islam Kanak expressed a sense of profound disappointment regarding the post-uprising student culture. He stated:
“I shared that post out of personal anguish. It is disheartening to see students embroiled in unnecessary conflicts rather than focusing on their academic and professional development. His comment was highly improper. While I reacted to his initial offensive remarks, I have since disabled the comments section to prevent further public degradation of the situation. I have advised him to use more restrained language and I intend to bring this matter to the attention of senior colleagues.”
In contrast, Shariful Islam has attempted to justify his reaction by citing a long-standing grievance. He alleged that during his earlier years at the university, he was subjected to torture by members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in room 237 of the former Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall (currently renamed Bijoy-24). Islam claimed this abuse occurred with the tacit approval or incitement of Dr Kanak. He asserted that his threat was a defensive response to being likened to a “sheep.”
Dr Kanak has dismissed these claims of historical complicity in violence as “total fabrication,” asserting that he had never heard of such an incident until now. He expressed concern for the student leader’s psychological well-being following the accusations. As of Saturday evening, the Rajshahi University administration has yet to release a formal statement or initiate official disciplinary proceedings against Shariful Islam.