Brahmanbaria Government College will hold a cultural programme instead of a concert at its fresher reception for undergraduate students. The cultural programme will take place at the field near the student hostel behind the college.
A large pavilion is being set up on the field in front of the college’s main building, where only a discussion session will be held. Preparations are underway at both venues ahead of the event on Monday, 14 September.
The Qaumi Chhatra Oikya Parishad submitted separate memorandums last Friday, 11 September, to Brahmanbaria-3 MP Engineer Khaled Hossain Mahbub Shyamol and District Council Administrator Sirajul Islam, objecting to the proposed concert at the fresher reception.
The MP later held discussions with leaders of the Qaumi Chhatra Oikya Parishad on Saturday, after which it was decided to hold the cultural programme inside the college’s South Campus.
Shahadat Hossain, president of the college’s Chhatra Dal unit, said students from all religions study at the institution and that they respect religious values while also seeking to preserve culture.
“We will complete the programme in an orderly and peaceful manner. How the students of Brahmanbaria Government College welcome the newcomers is entirely the college’s own matter. There is no question of outsiders coming in and interfering. The decision rests entirely with the students and the college authorities,” he said.
Another student said the South Campus is surrounded by boundary walls. He said the cultural programme was moved there to prevent outsiders from entering and to ensure the safety of regular students.
Qaumi Chhatra Oikya Parishad leader Abdul Khalek said they had agreed to allow the cultural programme at the South Campus on the condition that there would be “no obscenity”.
He added that no concert or cultural programme would be held on the college’s main field.
Brahmanbaria Government College Vice-Principal Professor Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain said the college had never described the event as a concert.
“We never said it would be a concert. You can see our invitation letter, where it says fresher reception, cultural programme and tree-planting activities. There is no mention of a concert. We will not hold a concert. This is essentially a programme organised by the students for the students. We will hold a cultural programme,” he said.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of a recent clash at the Brahmanbaria district police lines. On August 18, an attack disrupted a cultural programme organised to mark the visit of the Chattogram Range DIG. Students of the neighbouring Jamia Darul Arkam Al-Islamia Madrasa reportedly objected to loud music and entered the venue, leading to a clash with police.
Several police personnel and around 30 madrasa students were injured.
Earlier, on 30 May, a screening of the popular film Bonolota Express at Annada Government High School in Brahmanbaria town was also stopped following objections from Qaumi students.
At a meeting on Saturday to prepare for a boat race, the administration also prohibited the use of sound boxes.
