Dhaka: National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Chief Whip of the Opposition Nahid Islam on Tuesday alleged that Bangladesh’s educational institutions are once again being turned into ‘sanctuaries of terror’, claiming a familiar pattern of campus and hall grabbing is being repeated.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Nahid stated that an attack was carried out on Jagannath University’s Central Students’ Union representatives and the leadership of Chhatra Shakti. He accused Chhatra Dal of trying to take control of various educational institutions, including Dhaka College and Dhaka Alia Madrasah. Nahid also mentioned a violent incident in Habiganj where an individual named Alif had his eyes gouged out.

Nahid was speaking at a discussion titled ‘From Resistance to Victory: Legacy of July’ at Aftabnagar in the capital. The event was organized by the combined private university unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti to mark the 2nd anniversary of the July uprising. He urged the government to learn from past experiences and to avoid confrontations with students, allowing them to continue their education without disruption.

The NCP leader emphasized the importance of preserving the democratic culture within educational institutions and ensuring employment opportunities for students. He criticized the current government’s approach, drawing a parallel with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warning of similar consequences.

Highlighting the role of private university students in the July uprising, Nahid described their participation as crucial to the mass movement. He noted the unexpected involvement of private university students and the significant impact it had on the movement. He called for the recognition and documentation of their sacrifices, criticizing the government’s lack of initiative regarding private universities.

The discussion was attended by several notable figures, including NCP Spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, political council member Ali Ahsan Zonaed, Joint Member Secretary Rafe Salman Rifat, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti President Zahid Ahsan, and General Secretary Abu Baker Majumder, along with other private university leaders.