JCD Leader and 15 Students Caught Consuming Drugs at Jahangirnagar University

At Jahangirnagar University (JU), a leader of the student organisation Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), along with 15 students, was caught red-handed consuming alcohol and cannabis on the rooftop of a residential hall.

The detained leader has been identified as Md Jaber, a member of the JCD convening committee of JU and former General Secretary of the dissolved committee of Maulana Bhashani Hall.

The incident occurred around 2:00 am on Monday (22 September) at the rooftop of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Hall.

Profile of the Accused Leader

Witnesses reported that student representatives rushed to the rooftop after receiving information that freshmen were being ragged there. Instead, they found Jaber drinking locally brewed alcohol and smoking cannabis with around 15 others beside the water tank.

When asked to disclose their identities, the group refused. As representatives attempted to notify the hall provost and proctor, Jaber and his associates became hostile, even threatening a representative of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU).

Among those present with Jaber were:

• Aditya (IBA, 47th batch)
• Pratham (51st batch)
• Jabir (51st batch)
• Touhid (50th batch)
• Jihad (50th batch)
• Labib (52nd batch)
• Sakhawat (53rd batch)
• Rezwan (51st batch)
• Noman (50th batch)
• Prosenjit (50th batch)
• Samir (49th batch)

Several others were also present, though their names remain unconfirmed.

Student Reactions

• Shariful Alam Sakib, a residential student, said: “When we went to the rooftop, we found them consuming alcohol and cannabis. They reacted aggressively when asked to identify themselves.”
• Sakib Ahmed, General Secretary of the Hall Union, stated: “We caught them with liquor and cannabis. The proctor instructed us to record videos for identification. The seized substances will be handed over to the administration.”

Administrative Response

Attempts to contact the hall provost failed as he was outside Dhaka, while other responsible teachers were unreachable.

Upon being informed, Professor A.K.M. Rashidul Alam, the university proctor, directed students to preserve the names, identities, and evidence of seized drugs. He said: “The students informed me of the incident. Since it was late at night, the provost and others could not be reached. I have instructed them to submit the names, identities, and confiscated drugs to the proctor’s office. We will take action.”

This incident has sparked fresh concern among students about drug abuse within university halls and the role of political student groups in encouraging such behaviour.