PABNA, Aug 06 (V7N) — A programme marking the July Uprising Day at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) was cut short on Wednesday after leaders and activists of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), disrupted the event, alleging that key participants in the July movement had not been invited.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. at the university's Convention Centre during a discussion meeting and prayer session organised by the university administration to commemorate the occasion.
According to witnesses, the programme began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. The father of Mahbub Hasan Niloy, who was killed during political violence in Pabna on Aug. 4, delivered remarks on behalf of the families of those killed.
As organisers invited the father of another victim, Jahidul Islam, to speak, a procession led by PUST JCD President Mujahid Hossain and General Secretary Tarikul Islam entered the venue from outside.
The JCD activists then chanted a series of political slogans inside the hall, including slogans in support of the organisation and others accusing the university administration of favouring individuals they described as supporters of the previous Awami League government.
University Proctor Professor Dr Kamruzzaman Khan, Student Adviser Professor Dr Rashidul Haque, and Discussion Committee Convener Professor Dr Md Kamruzzaman attempted to calm the protesters. However, a heated exchange followed between JCD activists and university officials.
During the confrontation, Assistant Professor Md Imran Hossain of the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering (EECE) asked the protesters to remain calm. Witnesses said a JCD activist identified as Nishan moved aggressively toward the teacher before others intervened.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Hafizur Rahman (name not confirmed in the original report) later appealed over the microphone for the protesters to discuss their concerns after the programme. In response, some demonstrators shouted slogans branding the vice-chancellor as "fake."
As tensions escalated, protesters reportedly urged attendees to leave the venue. The programme concluded earlier than scheduled with a prayer led by Mufti Shakhawat Hossain, Imam of the Swadhinata Hall Mosque, without speeches from the vice-chancellor or the university treasurer.
Journalists covering the event also reported verbal misconduct by some protesters.
JCD leaders defended their actions, claiming that the university administration had excluded what they described as the "stakeholders" of the July movement while inviting individuals they considered controversial.
"We cannot accept any programme commemorating the July movement that excludes those who actually led or participated in it," JCD General Secretary Tarikul Islam told reporters. He alleged that student coordinators and organisers of the movement at both the university and district levels had not received invitations.
JCD President Mujahid Hossain made similar allegations, saying students who had actively participated in the movement or were injured during it had been left out of the guest list, while individuals linked to the former ruling party had been invited.
However, Professor Dr Md Kamruzzaman, convener of the discussion programme, rejected the allegations.
"We invited everyone through the university's registrar's office, and invitation letters were sent to every department," he said. "Several July movement participants attended the programme, and I personally contacted some of them by phone to invite them to both the discussion and the evening hall feast."
The university administration has not announced whether any further action will be taken following the disruption.
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