BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday instructed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal to avoid conflict with opposition student groups and not to fall for provocations on campuses.
Amid rising concern within the BNP over campus tensions, Tarique asked JCD central leaders to convey and enforce the directive by visiting educational institutions across the country.
The instructions came at a meeting at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office last night, where senior party leaders reviewed the political situation and recent campus incidents. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and several Chhatra Dal leaders were present at the meeting.
The directive follows recent clashes between Chhatra Dal and Shibir across campuses.
Party insiders said Tarique instructed JCD leaders and activists to act with patience, discipline and caution, warning that any misstep could malign not only the organisation but also the BNP and the government. He also stressed maintaining a peaceful academic environment.
A leader present at the meeting said Tarique expressed dissatisfaction with some recent JCD activities and asked the organisation to focus more on student-oriented politics.
“He made it clear that Chhatra Dal must not do anything that could malign the organisation, the BNP or the government,” the leader said, requesting anonymity.
Tarique also asked JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir about recent developments on campuses and the organisation’s response to opposition activities.
According to meeting sources, he advised JCD to avoid shows of strength and instead prioritise student issues -- academic environment, housing, safety, transport, classroom facilities and democratic space.
He also instructed the central leadership to engage directly with students on campuses and ensure activists follow party directives.
Several leaders said the party leadership believes opposition student organisations may try to provoke Chhatra Dal into clashes to create controversy and put pressure on the government.
They said Tarique warned JCD not to fall into such traps.
A senior BNP leader summed up the directive: “Chhatra Dal should remain active, but not aggressive. Campus politics must continue, but it has to be peaceful and student-oriented.”
The meeting also discussed what leaders described as false and misleading social media campaigns against the BNP, Chhatra Dal and senior figures.
Tarique instructed JCD not to respond emotionally but to counter misinformation with facts, discipline and constructive campus work.
He further called for strengthening organisational activities nationwide and better coordination between the central committee and university units.
Warning that the public closely watches student politics, he said all activities must remain within the law and advised legal action against violators.
BNP leaders said the party would closely monitor campus developments and take organisational action against any unit that breaches the instructions.
