Student Front President Labels Shibir Leaders as “Cowards”

The President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Students’ Front (Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal – JCD), Rakibul Islam Rakib, has strongly criticised leaders of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, describing them as “cowards” who engage in politics using fake social media identities.

He further alleged that Shibir activists are actively exploiting online platforms to malign women and political workers, particularly by engaging in character assassination campaigns.

Rakib made these remarks on Wednesday, 3 September, during a human chain demonstration held in front of the Supreme Court. The event was organised by the female leaders of JCD and attended by senior party figures, including General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

Key highlights from Rakib’s statement include:

• Shibir activists are involved in cyberbullying and harassment of female students.
• JCD women leaders such as Mansura, Fahmida, along with over a hundred other female activists, are regular targets of Shibir’s online attacks.
• A lawyer representing Forhad (a case-related individual) was once the General Secretary of Shibir’s Dhaka University unit, raising questions about political bias in legal proceedings.

During the same event, JCD’s General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir made further allegations against Shibir:

1. Threat of Violence – He stated that a covert Shibir member recently threatened a female student with public gang-rape after she filed a writ petition in the High Court.
2. Past Attacks – He recalled previous incidents where leftist and female political activists were subjected to violent assaults by Shibir in Rajshahi and Chattogram.
3. University Inaction – Nasir accused the Dhaka University administration, including the Vice-Chancellor and the Proctor, of remaining silent despite being well aware of Shibir’s “clandestine political activities”.
4. Call for Electoral Resistance – He urged female students not to vote for any Shibir-backed panels in the upcoming student union elections, insisting that defeating them through ballots is essential to safeguard the honour of Dhaka University.

The protest drew significant participation from JCD’s female leadership across multiple units, underlining their call for accountability and the protection of women from political intimidation.

Summary Table of Key Allegations