Rajshahi University student leader faces backlash for derogatory remarks against Jahanara Imam
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A student leader at Rajshahi University has ignited a firestorm of controversy after disparaging Jahanara Imam, the celebrated “Mother of Martyrs,” on the anniversary of her death. Zayid Hassan, the cultural affairs secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), sparked widespread outrage by posting a derogatory remark on Facebook, referring to the late activist as an “Imam of Hell.”
Hassan, who secured his position on the student union as part of a panel supported by the Islami Chhatra Shibir, claimed in his post that Imam had implemented a “foreign agenda” to serve political vendettas. When the post drew intense backlash across social media and campus circles, Hassan doubled down, asserting that his comments were directed at Imam’s role in initiating “mob culture” in Bangladesh rather than her status as a mother of a martyr. He argued that her identity as a martyr’s mother did not absolve her of what he described as her problematic political legacy.
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The remarks have drawn sharp condemnation from student activists and university community members, many of whom are calling for Hassan’s immediate removal from his post. Abdullah Al Kafi, joint general secretary of the university’s Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal branch, criticized the rhetoric, noting that the animosity stems from Imam’s historic role in establishing a public tribunal that condemned Ghulam Azam, the former leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, for war crimes. Kafi characterized the rhetoric as an unacceptable affront to the nation’s history and the sacrifices made during the 1971 Liberation War.
Former students and campus observers have also voiced their dissent, with some demanding that the RUCSU president take disciplinary action against Hassan within 48 hours. Critics argue that allowing such vitriol to go unchecked undermines the memory of those who fought for the nation’s independence.
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Jahanara Imam remains a deeply revered figure in Bangladesh, famously known as “Shaheed Janani” (Mother of Martyrs) for her immense personal sacrifice. Her eldest son, Shafi Imam Rumi, was killed while fighting for the country’s independence. She later rose to national prominence as the convener of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, spearheading the movement to bring war criminals to justice. Her memoir, *Ekattorer Dinguli*, is widely regarded as a seminal literary document of the Liberation War, cementing her status as an icon of the country’s struggle for sovereignty.
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