The Dhaka University (DU) branch of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has issued a stern ultimatum to the university administration, demanding a crackdown on an alleged extortion racket targeting campus vendors. In a formal petition submitted on Sunday, 26 January 2026, the student organisation accused a “syndicate” of controversial student representatives and complicit administrative staff of harassing small-scale traders.
Table of Contents
Allegations of Institutional Collusion
The application, signed by DU JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, details a pattern of systematic intimidation. The JCD alleges that since the disputed DUCSU (Dhaka University Central Students’ Union) elections, a group of representatives has been leveraging their positions to extract illegal tolls from floating shops and street stalls.
According to the petition, vendors who refuse to pay the “protection money” have their stalls vandalised or face arbitrary eviction by university employees. The JCD further claimed that when these activities are questioned, the accused representatives attempt to incite “mob justice” and frame rival political activists to distract from their own misconduct.
Chronology of Demands and Alleged Misconduct
| Incident / Demand | Description of Event |
| The Syndicate | Alleged tie-up between DUCSU reps and DU staff for extortion. |
| Tactics | Vandalism and forced eviction of non-compliant vendors. |
| Disinformation | Circulation of edited, six-week-old videos to smear JCD. |
| Deadline 1 | A clear administrative explanation required by 8:00 PM tonight. |
| Deadline 2 | Implementation of demands required within 24 hours. |
| Legal Threat | Pursuit of criminal proceedings if demands remain unmet. |
A Call for Transparency and Rules
The JCD leadership expressed deep concern over the eroding security and academic atmosphere of the campus. They specifically pointed to “digital disinformation” campaigns, where old video footage has allegedly been manipulated and circulated online to falsely implicate JCD members in campus disturbances. The organisation asserted that since the political transition on 5 August, they have maintained a strict code of conduct and have no involvement in such “extortionate syndicates.”
The 24-Hour Ultimatum
The JCD has presented the university administration with a dual-phased demand for action:
Regulatory Framework: The administration must immediately publish clear, public guidelines on how small businesses are permitted to operate on campus to prevent arbitrary harassment.
Disciplinary Action: A neutral probe must be initiated to identify and punish the staff and student representatives involved in the racketeering.
The petition concludes with a warning: should the administration fail to provide a satisfactory explanation by tonight or take concrete action within 24 hours, the JCD will initiate formal legal proceedings against the responsible individuals and the Dhaka University authorities for their failure to protect the campus community.