Chhatra Dal gives 24-hour ultimatum to remove Jinnah portrait from DUCSU museum

Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal (JCD) has given the University of Dhaka authorities a 24-hour ultimatum to remove what it described as a controversial portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) museum.

The student wing of the ruling party said it would launch programmes at the vice-chancellor’s office and the DUCSU museum if the portrait was not removed within the deadline. It also demanded action over two July memorial pillars installed by DUCSU on the university campus.

JCD leaders placed the demands during a meeting with the Dhaka University vice-chancellor on Monday (September 14). Speaking to reporters afterwards, Dhaka University unit JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon outlined their demands.

Sahas said the DUCSU museum and building were part of Bangladesh's history, heritage, glory, independence and sovereignty.

“They have hung portraits of two controversial individuals in the museum of the DUCSU building. This is a morally wrong act and an act of audacity. Chhatra Dal cannot silently tolerate it.”

He said JCD had approached the university authorities through democratic means and asked for the portraits to be removed administratively.

“As a democratic student organisation, we have come to the Dhaka University vice-chancellor and DUCSU president democratically. Although the DUCSU election was controversial, we have come to the president. We have given him a 24-hour ultimatum to ensure that the two portraits are removed administratively at the earliest.”

“If the portraits are not removed within 24 hours, we have told the vice-chancellor that Chhatra Dal will be compelled to announce programmes at the vice-chancellor’s office and the DUCSU museum,” he added.

Demand for action over July pillars

Sahas also raised objections to two pillars installed by DUCSU to commemorate the July movement.

He said the university administration had earlier laid the foundation stone for a memorial following demands from JCD and other active student organisations, and that the memorial was supposed to be established by the Dhaka University authorities.

According to Sahas, DUCSU installed two separate pillars before the university administration's memorial was established, one in front of the DUCSU building and Madhur Canteen, and another near the Central Mosque and Central Library.

“One political party considers the great Liberation War its own property. They have used the memories of the July movement, which is a place of emotion for us, to build pillars for dishonest political purposes. They will push the university environment towards conflict, and we cannot silently accept that.”

He said JCD had discussed the matter with the university administration and had been assured that action would be taken.

Dhaka University unit JCD General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon said the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the DUCSU museum raised questions about the university's history and heritage.

“The leader of Pakistan whose statement formed the backdrop to the Language Movement, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has had his portrait hung in the DUCSU museum. This is undermining the heritage and glory of Dhaka University and calling its century-old history into question.”

Shipon said JCD had sought an explanation from the DUCSU president over how those responsible had “dared” to take such action.

“The president must take swift steps to remove the portrait and address this controversial activity by DUCSU. The university administration must also take action against those responsible for such work.”

He said the university administration and the DUCSU president had assured JCD leaders that they would take action.