Nahid Islam, the Convenor of the National Citizen’s Party (NCP), has said Jahangirnagar University had always been among the first to join anti-fascist, anti-people and anti-democratic movements.
He made the remarks on Monday at a discussion titled “July, The Legacy of Blood Debt” and an award ceremony organised by the Jahangirnagar University unit of National Chhatra Shakti at the Zahir Raihan Auditorium.
Nahid said Jahangirnagar University’s role in Bangladesh’s democratic movements deserved a major chapter in the country’s history rather than a mere footnote.
“Whenever there was an anti-people or anti-democratic issue, Jahangirnagar University was among the first to take a stand,” he said.
Recalling his days in student politics, Nahid said there had often been a sense of competition among universities, but Jahangirnagar frequently succeeded where others could not.
He cited student movements demanding the resignation of vice-chancellors, saying Dhaka University students had made several attempts without success, while Jahangirnagar University students had achieved such an outcome.
The JU campus played a major role in anti-fascist movements over the past 17 years, he added.
Referring to the July uprising, Nahid said Jahangirnagar University had moved alongside Dhaka University during the movement. He recalled a statement by a JU teacher — “This valley of death is not my country” — saying it had moved people across the country.
The university also played an important role in bringing together students, workers and the general public in Savar, he said. Addressing newly admitted students, Nahid urged them to prepare themselves for nation-building.
“In July, we were able to break the system. Now, we have to build,” he said.
He stressed the need for urgent reforms in universities, particularly in the appointment of vice-chancellors and teachers, and called for an end to politically motivated appointments. Nahid also urged students to continue raising questions over unresolved issues.
Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Kamrul Ahsan presided over the programme, while National Chhatra Shakti JU unit Convener Ziauddin Ayan moderated it.
NCP political board members Abdullah Al Amin and Ariful Islam Adib, National Chhatra Shakti President Zahid Ahsan and General Secretary Abu Baker Majumdar, National Narishakti Convener Monira Sharmin, National Juboshakti Convener Advocate Tariqul Islam, JAKSU Vice-President Abdur Rashid Jitu and General Secretary Mazharul Islam also attended.
Leaders of different anti-fascist organisations at the university were also present.
