JnU Journalists’ Association polls postponed amid violence

Bangla Press Desk : A clash between two groups of reporters erupted on Thursday at Jagannath University over an alleged attempt to occupy the office of the Jagannath University Journalists’ Association (JnUJA), centring on the upcoming election of the body, leaving several journalists injured.

However, the Election Commission called off the election citing unavoidable circumstances after the clashes.Following the incident, both the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir units of Jagannath University traded blame, accusing each other of orchestrating the attack on journalists.Top leaders of JnU Chhatra Dal, including unit Convener Mehedi Hasan Hime and Member Secretary Shamsul Arefin, led the attack while standing near the association office, they claimed.

According to them, at least 10 journalists working for different national media outlets were injured in the attack, including Sakerul Islam of Jugantor, Junaet Sheikh of Kaler Kantho, Mushfikur Rahman Imon of Shomoyer Alo, and Jannatun Naeem of Bangladesher Khobor, among others.

However, denying the allegation, Jagannath University unit Chhatra Dal Convener Mehdi Hasan Himel said, “None of us went to the association office. We are not involved in the attack.”

However, another group of journalists presented a different account, alleging that they had been excluded from the voter list of the journalists’ association election. They said they went to the association office to inquire about their exclusion from the final voter list.

When they asked why their names had not been included in the final voter list, Shibir-backed leaders of JnUCSU and like-minded journalists allegedly launched an attack using stamps and sticks, leaving at least 12 people injured.

They alleged that the attack was led by Islami Chhatra Shibir General Secretary and JnUCSU General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif, which he claimed was false and fabricated.

JnU unit Shibir Secretary and JnUCSU General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif said he had tried to stop the clash after seeing the two sides fighting.

“When I saw one side attacking the other, I went there to intervene. Violence cannot take place in front of me without my trying to resolve it. As a student representative, it is my responsibility,” he said.

“I did not even touch any journalist. Rather, I was injured while trying to stop the fight and had to be admitted to the hospital,” he added.

Meanwhile, JnUJA General Secretary Mahtab Limon alleged that the attack was carried out after all CCTV cameras across the Jagannath University campus were shut down.

“Just before the attack on the journalists’ association, all CCTV cameras across the campus were shut down except three cameras at the vice-chancellor’s office,” he said.

Attempts to contact IT Director Prof Mohammad Nasir Uddin for comment failed. However, IT technician Soikat said he heard that the CCTV connections were disrupted after a fiber cable was cut.

JnUJA President Imran Hossain said the election schedule for the 2026 session was announced on 2 March, and the nomination collection process was supposed to proceed through regular procedures.

“However, since Wednesday night, various quarters linked to Chhatra Dal had been issuing threats. On Thursday, while the election activities were going on normally, more than a hundred Chhatra Dal activists suddenly entered the office and attacked the journalists present there. Ten journalists were injured, and several have been admitted to the hospital,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Rezaul Karim said, “The incident involving the journalists’ association is very unfortunate. A probe committee will be formed, and action will be taken against those found involved.”

He added that the election of the journalists’ association has been temporarily suspended, and a coordination committee will be formed to ensure a fair election and decide the next course of action.Source: daily Sun

BP/SP