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A Jahangirnagar University (JU) student was handed over to police on Wednesday after being detained by fellow students over Facebook posts in which he referred to participants in the July 2024 Mass Uprising as “July terrorists” and “July apostates.”
The accused, Sharafat Sharik Rohan, a 54th-batch student of the Department of Archaeology, was taken from Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq Hall to the university’s Proctor Office by leaders and activists of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU), Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Shakti, along with general students. He was later handed over to law enforcement by the university administration.
The incident occurred as universities across the country observed July Uprising Day, marking the second anniversary of the 2024 mass movement. While several campuses witnessed unrest, Jahangirnagar University remained largely peaceful, with university officials and student leaders attributing the calm to coordination among different student organisations.
According to university sources, two Facebook posts made by Rohan on Wednesday triggered widespread criticism on social media.
In one post, he wrote that the “fall of the July terrorists” was imminent, alleging that they had used ordinary students, misled the public and built politics over the deaths of innocent people. The post concluded with the slogans “Down with July,” “Long live the Liberation War,” “Joy Bangla,” and “Joy Bangabandhu.”
In another post, Rohan argued that while there may be differing interpretations of the Liberation War’s history, the war itself is beyond controversy. He also criticised those who used the slogan “Ami ke? Tumi ke? Rajakar, Rajakar” during the July movement, alleging that they had undermined the spirit of the Liberation War, and criticised several political groups for supporting the protests.
The posts quickly spread across social media, prompting strong reactions from students, who subsequently brought him to the Proctor Office.
Speaking to reporters, Rohan said he was not affiliated with the Awami League or any of its associate bodies, nor with Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir or any other political organisation. He said the posts reflected his personal political opinions.
“I used the terms ‘July terrorists’ and ‘July apostates’, which was inappropriate. The July movement is an emotional issue for the people of Bangladesh, and hurting those sentiments was wrong. I am remorseful and apologise,” he said.
He added that his intention had been to criticise what he perceived as attacks on the legacy of the Liberation War rather than the July movement itself, acknowledging that his choice of words had been a mistake.
University Proctorial Body member Prof Md Zakir Hossain said the administration reviewed Rohan’s Facebook posts and video clips after the incident and found materials that, at first glance, appeared to raise legal concerns under the country’s ICT-related laws.
He said the university had convened an emergency meeting and decided to form an investigation committee to verify the allegations and examine all available evidence before taking any academic action.
Prof Zakir also noted that some of Rohan’s friends had claimed he had been experiencing mental health issues. He said the investigation committee would examine those claims as part of its inquiry.
Pending the outcome of the investigation, the university handed the student over to police for legal proceedings, while further institutional action will depend on the committee’s findings, he added.