Shibir's presence in Madhu’s Canteen will taint Liberation War history, says Chhatra Dal

The group demand Chhatra Shibir to take moral responsibility for the murder of the canteen’s founder

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, or JCD, believes the presence of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir – the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami – in Dhaka University’s Madhu’s Canteen will tarnish the history of the Liberation War.

They said in a statement the Chhatra Shibir must take moral responsibility for the murder of Madhusudan Dey (Madhu Da), the founder and owner of the canteen.

In a statement signed by Office Secretary Jahangir Alam on Sunday, the JCD condemned and protested the Chhatra Shibir's press conference at Madhu’s Canteen.

The statement said, "In 1971, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Sangha took an anti-liberation role by collaborating with the Pakistani occupying forces.

“Jamaat's student wing, Chhatra Sangha, later known as Chhatra Shibir, must take moral responsibility for the murder of martyr Madhu Da.

“Holding a press conference at Madhu’s Canteen by the Chhatra Shibir is an insult to the martyr and his family.”

Earlier, in a separate statement, JCD President Rakibul Islam and General Secretary Nasir Uddin said: “The presence of the killer’s accomplices in the martyr’s own premises is a despicable incident.

“Out of remorse and conscience, Chhatra Shibir should not come to Madhu’s Canteen."

Earlier, the Chhatra Shibir leaders held a press conference outside the Madhu’s Canteen of Dhaka University at around 4:30pm on Sunday.

There, the organisation claimed that Chhatra Dal’s recent activities were a reflection of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

PROTEST BY STUDENTS’ UNION

The Bangladesh Students’ Union has also issued a separate statement condemning and protesting Chhatra Shibir's press conference at the Madhu’s Canteen.

In a statement from the organisation’s Office Secretary Merad Khan Ador on Sunday, President Mahir Shahriar Reza and General Secretary Bahauddin Shuvo condemned and protested the incident.

"Organising a press conference at Madhu’s Canteen by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the political legacy of the Pakistani occupation forces that killed Madhu Da, is a disgrace to freedom-loving and progressive students and the public.

"The Chhatra Shibir is the successor of the mass murderer organisation Islami Chhatra Sangha in the Liberation War, which committed ‘genocide’ by forming Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Razakar Bahini in the Liberation War.

“So far, Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir have not apologised to the nation for their crimes.”

In the statement, the leaders of the Bangladesh Student Union called on all students and the public to boycott the Chhatra Shibir.