JU CS leader expelled, sent to police over Hasina birthday post

Rabbi Hossain, joint general secretary of the JU unit of Chhatra Shakti.

Dhaka, Sep 28 -- A leader of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit was expelled from the organization and handed over to police on Monday over a Facebook comment wishing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a happy birthday.

Rabbi Hossain, joint general secretary of the JU unit, came under criticism after commenting “Happy Birthday Apa” on a Facebook post marking Hasina’s birthday.

A group of students brought Rabbi to the university’s proctor’s office on Monday afternoon. Later, the university administration handed him over to Ashulia Police Station.

Rabbi is a student of the Government and Politics Department from the 2022-23 academic session (52nd batch) and a resident of Shaheed Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Huq Hall.

JU Proctor Prof Md Zakir Hossain said several students brought Rabbi to his office after seeing the birthday greeting on Facebook.

“Authorities also found other evidence on his phone. Later, we handed him over to police, who will take legal action,” he said.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tarikul Islam said Rabbi was in police custody and that police would take action based on the university administration’s complaint.

“We are also investigating whether he was involved in any other offences,” he said.

Meanwhile, the central committee of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti expelled Rabbi from all organizational positions, including his primary membership in the JU unit, through a press release issued on Monday.

In a Facebook post following his expulsion, Rabbi claimed that he had made the comment sarcastically. He also said he had directly participated in the 2024 movement and had no affiliation with the Awami League.

Ziauddin Ayan, president of the JU unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, said Rabbi’s comment went against the organization’s principles and ideology, prompting the central committee to expel him.

He also urged the university administration to investigate the comment and take appropriate action. - UNB