BNP Senior Leader Rizvi Criticises Dhaka University VP’s Fine, Claims Money Going to Jamaat

Dhaka, 21 September 2025 – Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, has raised concerns over the recent actions of a newly elected Vice President (VP) of a Dhaka University hall parliament, alleging that fines imposed by student leaders are indirectly benefiting Jamaat-linked organisations.

Student VP Fines Shopkeeper

• Rizvi referred to the incident in which the Dhaka University VP fined a shopkeeper for allegedly selling MSG (testing salt).
• The event occurred at Masterda Surya Sen Hall on 12 September, where MSG was recovered from a hall shop.
• The VP, Azizul Haque, imposed a fine of BDT 3,000. Initially, the shopkeeper denied wrongdoing but later admitted to mixing testing salt into food.
• A written agreement was signed stipulating that failure to pay the fine within three days could lead to the termination of the shop contract.

Rizvi stated: “What is happening in student politics, you all are seeing. Someone has become VP, but were they given magisterial powers? The university administration can regulate who runs shops or markets inside the campus. The student leader can only lodge complaints. But here, the VP goes ahead and fines the shop, and that money ends up in Jamaat’s Baitul Maal.”

The remarks were made during a discussion hosted by ‘7 November Projonmo’ at the Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club.

University Administration Responds

• The proctor of Dhaka University, Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, objected to the VP’s action, stating: “Student leaders do not have the authority to impose fines. Any such decisions must go through the hall administration.”
• Rizvi also criticised the distribution of iron beds by political party affiliates in the university halls, calling it an “unusual practice” and questioning whether student accommodation had become a political playground.

“If students face accommodation problems, it should be addressed through protests or official administration channels. Is this an orphanage, that you hand out iron beds and dining tables? These are bad signs,” he added.

Rizvi accused mainstream and social media of biased reporting against the BNP, stating: “In today’s reality, the narrative says, ‘So-and-so is bad, we are good.’ When investigating, it turns out that Jamaat members are also involved in certain incidents. This is not being highlighted as much. For example, in Sylhet’s stone extraction or incidents involving women, Jamaat leaders are named, but only BNP is propagated on social media. Actions taken by the BNP against these members, like suspensions or expulsions, are not publicised.”

He further cited the famous quote from Somerset Maugham: “Every family has a black sheep.”

Rizvi likened political parties to families, acknowledging that miscreants may exist, but emphasised that taking action against culprits reflects the party’s integrity. He expressed concern that media coverage fails to portray this reality, instead creating biased narratives against the BNP.

Key Issues Raised

Rizvi’s statements highlight concerns over student political overreach, transparency of fines, and media bias while calling for accountability within political and student structures.