Shibir Accuses BNP Student Wing of Hall Occupation in Protest

A fresh wave of student political tension has emerged at Rajshahi University after the university unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir staged a human chain protest on Monday, accusing the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of allegedly occupying seats in residential halls with administrative support.

The demonstration took place around midday on the university’s Paris Road, where Shibir activists gathered to demand action against what they described as unauthorised occupation of dormitory seats. The group also levelled allegations against hall administrations and university authorities, claiming complicity in maintaining the disputed arrangements.

Speaking at the protest, Shibir leaders alleged that members and supporters of the BNP-affiliated student organisation were continuing to reside in several residential halls without proper entitlement. They further claimed that administrative mechanisms were being used selectively, allowing some students to retain seats despite the completion of their academic requirements, while others were being evicted within a short period after examinations.

The organisation put forward three key demands: cancellation of seats allegedly held illegally and recovery of vacant accommodations; publication of all vacant seats followed by allocation through a transparent waiting list system; and centralised management of hall seat distribution with results published online for accountability.

In a statement issued the previous night, Shibir claimed that irregularities had been identified in at least three residential halls, alleging that several politically affiliated students continued to occupy rooms even after completing their academic obligations.

During the protest, Shibir’s university president Mujahid Faisal accused the BNP student wing of attempting to re-establish what he termed a “culture of hall control”, including alleged intimidation practices and financial irregularities. He also alleged that both hall provosts and the university administration were indirectly facilitating these practices.

Faisal further claimed inconsistencies in seat cancellation policies, arguing that ordinary students were required to vacate halls within 15 days of completing examinations, while politically connected individuals were allegedly being allowed to remain. He also raised concerns about reserved seats under hall quotas, claiming they were being allocated in a non-transparent manner.

Shibir’s publicity and media secretary, Mehedi Sajib, warned that the organisation would mobilise broader student resistance if similar patterns of alleged hall occupation continued.

The BNP student wing rejected all allegations, describing them as baseless and politically motivated. In a counterstatement, the organisation accused Shibir of attempting to damage its reputation and disrupt campus stability without presenting verifiable evidence. It urged that any complaints should be formally submitted to the relevant authorities rather than circulated through social media or public demonstrations.