DUJA Announces Boycott of JCD Following Assault on Journalists

DHAKA — The Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) has officially announced a comprehensive boycott of all programmes and activities involving the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The decision remains in effect until the organisation identifies and initiates formal organisational disciplinary action against the activists responsible for assaulting journalists on the university campus.

The resolution was publicised on Friday, 24 April 2026, following a formal protest by DUJA members. A delegation of journalist leaders submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, seeking immediate intervention and justice for the physical harassment suffered by their colleagues whilst performing their professional duties.

Declaration of the Boycott and Legal Action

Following the submission of the memorandum at the Vice-Chancellor’s office, DUJA President Manjur Hossain Mahi issued a resolute statement outlining the association’s stance. He emphasised that the safety of media personnel is non-negotiable and that the boycott serves as a necessary response to the lack of immediate accountability.

“We will boycott all types of programmes of the Chhatra Dal until those involved in the attacks on journalists are identified and organisational measures are taken against them,” Mahi declared.

In addition to the institutional boycott, the leadership of the journalists’ association confirmed their intention to pursue criminal charges. The association is currently in the process of filing a formal case at Shahbag Police Station regarding the assault, seeking a legal remedy for the physical injuries and harassment sustained by the reporters during the confrontation.

Incident Background and Confrontation at Shahbag

The hostilities originated on Thursday, 23 April 2026, at Shahbag Police Station. The incident was reportedly sparked by a contentious and “distasteful” social media post on Facebook, which drew a large, agitated gathering of JCD activists to the precinct. As journalists from the university-based association arrived to document the escalating tension between JCD members and other groups, including former student union leaders, they were targeted by the mob.

Several media workers sustained physical injuries during the affray. Witnesses reported that the activists obstructed the journalists from capturing footage and recording statements, leading to a violent confrontation in which reporters were physically assaulted.

Response from the JCD Central Command

In response to the mounting pressure and the announcement of the boycott, the General Secretary of the JCD Central Committee, Nasir Uddin Nasir, expressed formal regret over the violence. In a statement disseminated via his official Facebook profile, he characterised the situation as “unintended.”

Nasir noted that the injuries occurred during an “exciting situation” involving aggrieved activists and other parties at the police station. Expressing sincere apologies on behalf of the organisation, he asserted:

“The Chhatra Dal believes in the protection of journalists and the freedom of the press. We will remain diligent in preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future.”

The JCD leadership has reportedly established an internal four-member inquiry committee, led by senior vice-presidents and joint secretaries, to investigate the allegations. However, DUJA has maintained that words of regret are insufficient without the public identification and expulsion of the perpetrators from the organisation.

Institutional Implications for Press Freedom

The boycott represents a significant escalation in the relationship between the press and student political organisations at Bangladesh’s premier educational institution. DUJA represents correspondents from the nation’s leading print, electronic, and digital media outlets, and its boycott effectively restricts the JCD’s ability to disseminate its political messaging through accredited campus channels.

The Vice-Chancellor’s office has acknowledged the memorandum, though it has yet to announce if an independent university-led disciplinary committee will be formed to investigate the breach of campus conduct rules. As of Friday afternoon, the journalists’ association remains firm in its demand for documented disciplinary proof before the boycott is rescinded. The incident has heightened concerns regarding the shrinking space for objective journalism amidst volatile student politics in the capital.