RAKSU Official’s Remarks on Jahanara Imam Spark Outrage

Controversial remarks made by the Cultural Affairs Secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU) about the late Jahanara Imam have triggered widespread criticism on social media, with students, alumni and political activists condemning the comments as deeply offensive.

On Saturday (27 June), RAKSU Cultural Affairs Secretary Zayed Hasan Joha shared a post on his personal Facebook account referring to the anniversary of Jahanara Imam’s death as the “death anniversary of the Imam of Hell”. In the caption, he also alleged that she had implemented a “foreign blueprint” to fulfil political vengeance.

The post quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting strong reactions from members of the Rajshahi University community and beyond. Many users criticised the language used in the post, arguing that it was disrespectful towards a figure who is widely honoured in Bangladesh as “Shaheed Janani” (Mother of Martyrs).

Among those criticising the post was Abdullah Al Kafi, Joint General Secretary of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. In a Facebook post, he accused Joha of insulting Jahanara Imam and argued that such remarks reflected disrespect towards the country’s Liberation War history. Kafi also referred to Imam’s role in the symbolic People’s Court movement against Ghulam Azam, a controversial political figure accused of war crimes during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.

Former student Amanullah Khan Aman, of the Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, also criticised the remarks. He wrote that the university community should have responded more strongly and called for action against Joha, including the cancellation of his position as RAKSU Cultural Affairs Secretary. Aman argued that disrespecting Bangladesh’s historical legacy was unacceptable.

Responding to the criticism, Zayed Hasan Joha defended his comments, saying they were directed at Jahanara Imam’s political role rather than her status as the mother of a martyred freedom fighter. He claimed that the movement against those labelled as war criminals had created what he described as a culture of mob justice. Joha maintained that his remarks were not intended to insult the Liberation War or freedom fighters, adding that, in his view, being recognised as the mother of a martyr did not exempt an individual from political criticism.

Jahanara Imam remains one of Bangladesh’s most prominent writers, educators and political activists. During the 1971 Liberation War, her eldest son, Shafi Imam Rumi, was killed while fighting for the country’s independence. In recognition of her family’s sacrifice, she became widely known and respected as “Shaheed Janani”.

In 1992, she played a leading role in the nationwide movement demanding the trial of individuals accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces during the Liberation War. She also founded the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, an organisation that became central to the campaign for accountability over alleged wartime atrocities. Her memoir Ekattorer Dinguli (“The Days of ’71”) is regarded as one of the most significant literary accounts of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

The controversy surrounding Joha’s remarks continues to generate debate across social media. At the time of reporting, Rajshahi University authorities had not issued an official statement regarding the matter.