Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has described the recently circulated statements of some of its leaders regarding media as “personal”, “unintentional”, and a “slip of tongue”.
These remarks were made in a statement issued on Sunday, signed by Chhatra Shibir’s Central President Jahidul Islam and Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam. The organisation, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, said these statements do not represent its official or institutional position.
The two leaders stated, “A vested group of people is attempting to conceal the actual incident by conspiratorially placing the blame for vandalism and arson committed at the offices of the Daily Star and Prothom Alo onto Chhatra Shibir.”
Following the death of Inqilab Mancha’s spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi on 18 December, in an immediate reaction, President of Rajshahi University (RU) unit of Chhatra Shibir and Vice President of RU Central Student Union (Rucsu) announced the closure of Prothom Alo, Daily Star, and other so-called “civil” newspapers.
The next day, a rally organised at Jahangirnagar University (JU), the Secretary of the JU unit of Chhatra Shibir said, “The leftists, Shahbaghis, Chhayanaut, and Udichi must be dismantled.”
These statements, spreading on social media, sparked intense criticism.
In light of this, Chhatra Shibir’s statement said that attempts are being made to hold the organisation responsible based on the personal statements of the Rucsu VP, the President of the RU unit, and the Secretary of the JU unit.
The organisation claimed that the statements in question were entirely personal.
In the official statement provided by Chhatra Shibir, it is stated, “We clearly declare that Chhatra Shibir has no connection with attacks on media or any cultural institution. Simultaneously, such attacks are in no way justifiable. We hope the misunderstanding created by propaganda will end.”
Demanding a neutral, fair, and acceptable investigation into the incident, Chhatra Shibir leaders called upon all concerned parties to refrain from spreading confusion in the media and public mind.
