The administration of Dhaka University (DU) has issued a stern condemnation following derogatory remarks made by a senior official of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The controversy stems from a public speech in which the university’s historic students’ union was characterised in “obscene and distasteful” terms, sparking a significant backlash from the academic community.
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A Deplorable Rhetorical Attack
The incident occurred during an election rally on Saturday night in Patharghata, Barguna. Addressing a crowd in support of the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Barguna-2 constituency, Md. Shamim Ahsan, the Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat’s Barguna district branch, launched a verbal assault on the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
Ahsan claimed that before the ascendancy of the Islami Chhatra Shibir (Jamaat’s student wing) in campus politics, the union office had served as a “den for narcotics and a brothel.” He further asserted that his political organisation was responsible for eradicating “all forms of injustice, extortion, and corruption” from the university.
Official Response from Dhaka University
In a formal press release issued through the Acting Director of the Public Relations Office, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, the university administration expressed its “deepest condemnation and protest” against the statement.
| Category | University’s Assessment |
| Nature of Remarks | Described as “vulgar, obscene, and imprudent.” |
| Institutional Impact | A direct assault on the image, tradition, and honour of the university. |
| Administrative Demand | Immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the statement. |
| Directives to Public | Request for all parties to refrain from “ignorant and reckless” commentary. |
Defending a Century of Tradition
The university’s rebuttal emphasised that DUCSU—often referred to as the “Second Parliament” of Bangladesh—has been the cornerstone of the nation’s democratic and intellectual evolution. The administration argued that such “profane” allegations not only insult current students but also tarnish the legacy of the historic leaders who emerged from the union to lead the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War.
“The remarks made by the Jamaat leader are not only tasteless but also entirely detached from reality,” the statement read. The administration further noted that such rhetoric severely undermines the sanctity of the country’s premier educational institution for the sake of cheap political gain in an electoral campaign.
Demand for Recantation
The DU administration has called for an immediate retraction of the “offensive and uncultured” comments. Furthermore, the authorities urged all political figures to exercise restraint and maintain a level of decorum when discussing educational institutions. The statement concluded with a warning that the university would not remain silent while its reputation and historical contributions are subjected to “ignorant” and defamatory attacks.