Chhatra Shakti Condemns JU Administration for Honouring Former Registrar Accused Over July Attacks

The Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti has condemned the university administration's role in honouring former registrar Abu Hasan, who is accused of abetting the attacks on students during the July mass uprising.

The organisation also demanded a fresh investigation and justice against the accused teachers, officers, employees and Chhatra League attackers involved in the assaults.

The demands were made in a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, signed by the unit's office secretary, Kazi Mehrab Turjo.

According to the statement, the university administration felicitated Abu Hasan at a reception for retired officers and employees. On July 17, 2024, he stood in front of the registrar building holding a hand microphone to implement the administration's decision to vacate the halls. When students gathered there to protest the decision, a tense situation developed. He was later accused of abetting the attacks on students in July.

The statement noted that a syndicate meeting of the university on March 17, 2025 had decided to cancel Abu Hasan's pension benefits.

The organisation called it worrying that the current administration felicitated such a controversial and accused former official. Chhatra Shakti claimed that questions have arisen over the administration's position especially because Vice Chancellor Professor Nurul Islam was himself present at the felicitation. The statement said that during the July uprising the Vice Chancellor was seen in the front row of teachers who stood beside the students, yet his administration is now honouring an official accused in the attacks, and the administration must explain this.

The statement further alleged that no visible and effective justice has yet been ensured against the accused teachers, officers and employees. Initially, nine teachers were temporarily suspended and a committee was formed for further investigation against 19 teachers, but questions remain over the punitive measures taken afterwards. In the case of several accused teachers, only steps such as salary reductions were taken, which the organisation believes does not ensure proper justice given the gravity of the incidents.

Chhatra Shakti also expressed concern that, despite sufficient video footage and other evidence, the punishments of accused Chhatra League attackers were reduced on appeal. The statement raised allegations of lobbying by influential quarters in this process, and alleged that many of the accused are again moving around campus and taking part in academic activities.

The statement also alleged that some teachers accused in the July attacks are trying to reorganise, and raised claims of efforts to organise Awami-leaning teachers around the teachers' association election. It demanded that these allegations be verified impartially and that the university's democratic environment and students' safety be ensured.

The organisation said Jahangirnagar University cannot become a rehabilitation centre for teachers, officers, employees or Chhatra League attackers accused in the July attacks on students, and opposed building a culture of impunity through felicitations or reduced punishments on appeal.

The JU unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti warned that it would build a strong movement if the university administration does not immediately take effective steps to ensure a proper reinvestigation of these incidents and deliver justice.