A controversy has emerged in Brahmanbaria’s Kasba upazila following the removal of a college-level student leader from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, amid allegations of misinformation, identity-related claims, and internal disciplinary action.
Ruhid Islam, also known locally as “Rihia Rihi”, who served as the cultural affairs secretary of the Syedabad Adarsha College unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has publicly rejected circulating claims about his gender identity and insisted that he is “a complete male and a cultural activist”.
The dispute escalated after a press release issued on Sunday (5 April) by the district unit of the student organisation announced his removal from all posts, including primary membership. The statement, signed by joint convener in charge of media affairs Mamun Khan, alleged that Ruhid Islam had concealed personal information and violated organisational discipline. The decision was later endorsed by district convener Shainur Rahman and member secretary Samir Chakraborty.
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Statement and public clarification
Shortly after the announcement, Ruhid Islam released a video statement and posted on his Facebook account, seeking to clarify his position. He strongly denied claims circulating on social media that he was transgender, calling such reports “completely false and misleading”.
In his statement, he said he is a “fully male individual” and has been involved in cultural activities for a long time. He also acknowledged that some of his online content had caused public misunderstanding and expressed regret, adding that he had already removed the controversial material and would exercise greater caution in the future.
He further urged the public not to share or believe unverified information, warning that misinformation can severely damage a person’s dignity and reputation.
Family response and social media activity
According to family sources, Ruhid Islam had been active on social media platforms, including TikTok, where he created and shared short videos that were later reposted on Facebook. The family stated that they did not support his online activities and were not involved in them.
They also confirmed that following recent criticism and public discussion surrounding his content, he had expressed regret for any misunderstanding caused. However, they strongly denied claims that he had undergone any gender reassignment surgery or transitioned from male to female, calling such reports entirely false.
The family further added that, due to the intensity of online backlash and local attention, Ruhid Islam has not been staying at home in recent days.
Formation of committee and internal controversy
According to district student wing sources, a 51-member full committee of the Syedabad Government Model College unit was formed after an initial announcement on Friday. The list was later published on social media by member secretary Samir Chakraborty, which triggered widespread discussion online.
Ruhid Islam’s inclusion in the committee reportedly became a focal point of controversy, leading to internal scrutiny within the organisation.
A simplified overview of the developments is presented below:
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Position held | Cultural Affairs Secretary, college unit |
| Organisation | Student wing of BNP (college unit) |
| Action taken | Removed from all posts and primary membership |
| Allegations | Concealing personal information, disciplinary breach |
| Public response | Video statement denying rumours |
| Online activity | TikTok videos shared on social media |
| Current status | Staying away from home amid controversy |
Organisational explanation
Speaking on the matter, Samir Chakraborty stated that personal biodata was collected prior to forming the committee, and Ruhid Islam had identified himself as male in the submitted documents.
However, he claimed that after the committee announcement, it came to light through social media discussions that Ruhid may have undergone gender reassignment surgery and identified differently at some point, which he said was not compatible with the organisation’s expectations and social norms.
On this basis, the decision was taken to relieve him of all organisational responsibilities due to alleged misrepresentation of personal information.
Ongoing debate
The incident has sparked debate both locally and on social media regarding personal identity, digital content creation, and organisational vetting procedures in student politics. While one side emphasises disciplinary standards and transparency within political student bodies, others have raised concerns about misinformation, online harassment, and reputational damage.
As the controversy continues, no formal legal proceedings have been reported, but the matter remains under close public and organisational scrutiny.