The Bangladesh Students’ Union (BSU), Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit, has sharply criticized the authorities of two residential halls for excluding the traditional Victory Day feast from their recently issued announcements.
The student organization termed the omission a “deliberate disregard of a national day” and an “insult to the spirit of the Liberation War.”
The provost offices of Shahid Felani Khatun Hall and July 24 Jagoroni Hall issued separate notices outlining the schedule for meal coupon distribution between 10 and 15 December.
While the notices specified detailed collection times, they made no reference to any special meal or feast for 16 December, an annual practice long observed at JU. The absence quickly drew reactions from students across the campus.
In a statement released Sunday, leaders of the BSU JU unit said the Victory Day feast is an integral part of the university’s cultural tradition, serving to commemorate the nation’s triumph, honor the martyrs, and bring students together in a shared celebration.
They alleged that the omission was intentional and “contrary to the values of independence and the liberation struggle.”
The statement further noted that observing national days with appropriate respect is a fundamental responsibility of educational institutions.
“Instead of upholding tradition, the hall authorities chose to publish routine coupon schedules while ignoring Victory Day altogether,” it said, describing the move as “highly insensitive.”
The BSU placed three specific demands before the university administration – reinstatement of the Victory Day feast, immediate amendment of the hall notices, and a clear policy to prevent similar neglect of national days in the future.
The organization warned it would launch peaceful demonstrations if the authorities failed to address the issue.
Meanwhile, JUCSU Cultural Secretary Sheikh Zisan Ahmed criticized the matter in a Facebook post, saying, “Anyone who hesitates to acknowledge Bangladesh’s Victory Day is unworthy of respect and unfit to serve as a teacher. I demand the immediate removal of the concerned provost.”
Hall administrations have not yet responded publicly to the criticism. According to the issued notices, students may collect coupons until 11:00am on 15 December, with each coupon priced at Tk 30.
