Students of Jagannath University (JnU) have reiterated that no murals and sketch plaques will be placed on the campus.
“We will not accept any more cult of personality in the university in the name of installing murals or nameplates. There will be nameplates for memory, but no sketches or pictures.”
“Just as Sheikh Hasina introduced the custom of individual worship by erecting murals at places, the Jagannath University administration is now following the same path. The university administration is trying to regain its political advantage by resuming the practice of personal worship”, said the students.
The students said these things at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, protesting the installation of a mural of Khaleda Zia at Jagannath University (JnU).
Following the fall of the Awami League government, the mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at JnU was defaced with black ink.
Simultaneously, a plaque and mural of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who played a key role in elevating Jagannath to university status, are being constructed in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office.
While students support the installation of a plaque recognizing the university’s founder, they oppose any political murals.
The students said that if the university authority does not withdraw from the decision to install this mural by Tuesday, they also announced to submit a complaint to the education adviser with public signatures from the university students in this regard on Wednesday.
The students also declared that they would continue their protest.
In a written speech at the press conference, AKM Rakib, a student of the Botany Department, said: "Recently, we noticed that the university administration has decided to install an 11-foot-long mural of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on October 20, the University Day. We want to say that we also remember Khaleda Zia's contribution to Jagannath University with respect. We want Jagannath University to have his memory. A good way to preserve his memory would be to reconstruct the nameplate that was destroyed during the fascist period. However, the university administration is walking on the path of autocracy shown by Hasina. Just as Hasina introduced the custom of individual worship by erecting murals at places, the university administration is now walking on the same path.”
“We feel that the university administration is trying to gain political advantage by resuming the practice of personal worship. A new personality cult is now being started at Jagannath University.”
He said Jagannath University was no exception to the winds of change that swept across the country after the July Revolution.
“We had hoped that the new V-C of the university, who would be the fall of fascism, would embody the spirit of the 24 movement. However, we are disappointed with the recent actions of VC Sir. We can see that he is walking on the path of the VC of the previous fascist period.”
The students were led by the university's proctor professor Muhammad Tazammol Hoque .
The proctor said that there would be a small nameplate in the administrative building, and there would be nothing like a statue.
The convener of the student-related coordination committee of JnU on the installation of the mural, Dr Rais Uddin said: "I am personally against mural culture. It's not a mural…only the nameplate with the picture.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof Rezaul Karim said that it is not a mural or sculpture. This is an advertisement with a picture.
JnU students oppose any political murals on campusIn 2005, the then-BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia-led government converted Jagannath College into a university. There was a plaque in front of the university's administrative building.
During the Hasina government, Chhatra League leaders dismantled it.
After the fall of the Hasina government, Prof Rezaul Karim was appointed the new vice-chancellor of the university.
He announced the inauguration of the new nameplate on October 20, the University Day.
However, the students criticized the decision to install Begum Khaleda Zia's picture in the nameplate.
Later, the administration decided to sketch with an 8-foot nameplate instead of an 11-foot mural.
However, the students say that the custom of the picture or mural is the creation of the autocratic Hasina government. Students don't want personalized politics through murals anymore.
