Students of Jagannath University (JnU) have slaughtered a cow beside the vice-chancellor’s (VC) building in protest at a notice issued by the administration banning animal slaughter on campus. The cow was slaughtered at about 8am on Friday, 16 October, on the road between the VC building and the mathematics department, as part of a pre-announced “Friday beef feast” programme.
The administration’s directive had earlier caused discontent and protests among students. Following this, on Thursday students bought a cow for Tk 1 lakh 25 thousand for the feast. It began on Wednesday, 14 October, when the proctor’s office issued a notice banning animal slaughter on campus, citing the need to keep the environment clean, protect health and maintain discipline. It warned that anyone defying it would face disciplinary action under the rules of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Soon after the notice was published, Masud Rana, assistant general secretary (AGS) of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU), announced a beef feast with students. A fee of Tk 70 per person was set, and registration was opened through a Google Form on Thursday.
In protest at the directive, a procession and rally led by JnUCSU were held at the university’s sculpture square at about 9:30pm on Wednesday. The rally put forward four demands, including withdrawal of the proctor’s notice.
Besides withdrawing the notice, the students’ demands include a public apology, an investigation into why a communal colour was given to the dinner, beef and mutton on the menu of the university cafeteria, and the maintenance of religious harmony for all on campus. Additional proctor Professor Dr Md Azam Khan had said the authorities would have no objection if the beef feast were held in an orderly way, following specific rules and with administrative permission.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report