Conspiracy to reorganize students under the guise of prayers and iftar programs at various educational institutions including BUET!

Students’ studies are being disrupted by political turmoil! Parents are angry

❐ Special Correspondent

Tension has spread on the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) campus over the incident of political slogans being raised in the presence of National Citizens Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary. A group of students have expressed anger, calling it against the apolitical campus.

From participating in the riots of July-August 2024 to now in 2026, students from all colleges and universities in the country have kept themselves busy in the political atmosphere. Students are on the streets against discrimination and quotas, sometimes against students with different views, sometimes against teachers, on various issues including postponing exams, student council elections, national elections. Parents are also angry at such a state of education.

In the context of this incident, questions have been raised in various quarters – are the alleged ‘masterminds’ or influential people during the July Movement planning to create new unrest by reorganizing students in educational institutions under the guise of prayers and iftar parties?

Nasiruddin Patwari went to offer Tarawih prayers at the BUET Central Mosque on Wednesday night (February 25). After the prayers, some students accused him of chanting political slogans, which contradicts BUET’s pledge to maintain its apolitical character, the students claimed.

They held a press conference at Shaheed Minar around 1 am and said, “We reject with hatred any activity of any political party at BUET. We will protect the apolitical campus earned with the blood of martyrs like Abrar Fahad and Beqekunnahar Soni.”

Meanwhile, Nasiruddin Patwari said in his Facebook post that he had gone to offer prayers at the invitation of some students. He promised not to make any political statements after the prayers and left without making any statement. However, the situation heated up due to the slogans raised by some of the students who came with him.

Similar public relations programs have been raised at other educational institutions, including Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University. Many have expressed doubts about the purpose of such mosque-centric public relations after the elections.

None of these mosques are in Patwari’s constituency, and he goes to each mosque with a group and after prayers, exchanges political views with various people in the presence of media and BOOM journalists, who are known as Patwari’s own and trusted PR team.

Some are wondering whether preparations are underway for a new movement against the current elected government by provoking students like the July 2024 movement. It has been alleged that some influential individuals or groups from the July movement are now trying to exert influence on campuses under the guise of prayers, iftars, and religious programs.

According to a section of students, such activities can destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the educational institution and may be part of a conspiracy to create unrest again. They demand that a strict stance be taken to keep the campus free from political influence.

The discussion has intensified as Nasiruddin Patwary or the NCP have not provided any further details on the matter. The BUET authorities have not yet issued any official statement.