Chhatra Shibir gifts war criminal Ghulam Azam's book at fresher's reception, students outraged

At Rajshahi University's fresher's reception for the 2025-26 academic year, criticism has arisen over the gifting of a book written by Ghulam Azam, a 1971 war criminal and former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, to students. At the event held at the university's Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium on Saturday (September 12), the university unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir gifted the book 'Monke Kaj Din' to the new students of the 2025-26 academic year's undergraduate (honours) first year.

After the matter of distributing Ghulam Azam's book at the event came to light, discussion and criticism began among students. Leaders, activists and students of various active student organisations at the university expressed outrage over the incident. They alleged that through an event like a fresher's reception, an attempt was being made to normalise the war criminals of 1971.

A fresher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that by gifting such a book on the university campus, an attempt was being made to establish war criminals as normal. In his view, this is in no way desirable and such activities amount to casting doubt on the history of the Liberation War.

Another fresher said Shibir had welcomed the newcomers with a grand arrangement. However, gifting a book written by Ghulam Azam, a razakar identified with 1971, among the gift items was condemnable.

Fuad Ratul, convenor of the university unit of Chhatra Front, said a process of normalising the war criminals of 1971 has been going on for several years. More than a thousand taka was spent per student at Shibir's fresher's reception. He does not see this as a normal activity of a student organisation. He also raised the question of whether there is any investment by domestic or foreign anti-Bangladesh forces behind this arrangement. While speaking of keeping the political arena free from interference, he commented that monitoring is needed to see whether any anti-state agenda is being implemented.

Sultan Ahmed Rahi, president of the university unit of Chhatra Dal, commented that it is highly concerning to hand students books of controversial and questionable political ideology behind the facade of a fresher's reception. He said that handing new students a book written by Ghulam Azam, who is identified in history for opposing Bangladesh's independence in 1971, is in no way consistent with a university's ideals of knowledge practice.

However, Mujahid Faisal, president of the university unit of Chhatra Shibir, did not wish to make an immediate comment on the matter of gifting the book. He said they do not want to speak on this matter now.