A group of female students at Jagannath University (JnU) formed a human chain on Sunday in protest against derogatory remarks made about the Islamic practice of 'parda' and what they called insults against women.
The protest took place in front of the university’s Bhasha Shaheed Rafiq Bhaban at 3:30pm under the banner of general students.
The demonstrators alleged that Shamsul Arefin, member secretary of JnU Chhatra Dal, the BNP's student front, had made a satirical post on Facebook by sharing a photo of a meeting between members of the Dhaka University (DU) unit of Islami Chhatri Sangstha, the women's branch of Jamaat e Islami's student wing, with the DU Vice-Chancellor.
In follow-up comments under the post, he allegedly made sexually suggestive and offensive remarks, including the statement: “There’s excellent parda beneath a lungi. We don’t have a problem with parda — the circus does.”
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Students said that such comments are not only offensive but also an attack on the religious sentiments and rights of Muslim women.
“The parda is not just a piece of cloth,” one protester said. “It is a matter of religious rights and emotion. In a Muslim-majority country, such trivialisation cannot be tolerated.”
Participants in the human chain raised two demands: Shamsul Arefin must issue a public apology and the university administration must take effective steps to prevent the abuse of women wearing the veil.
Humaira, a student from the Department of Islamic History and Culture, said “We live in a country where 94 percent of the population are Muslims. No decent person can make such insulting remarks about the veil. Why do we have to hear such things even after achieving independence? I strongly condemn and protest this.”
Tisha, a student from the 2024–25 session of the Department of Drama, said the veil is a compulsory provision in Islam. It is our right as Muslim women. “No sensible person would make abusive or vulgar comments about it,” she added.
Bushra, from the Philosophy Department, commented: “His words have disrespected all Muslim women. He must offer a public apology.”
Sumaiya, a student of the English Department, said this is not just an insult to Muslim women—it is an insult to all women. We demand that the administration ensures no one can insult women wearing the veil in the future.”
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The controversy erupted after Shamsul Arefin’s Facebook post went viral on Saturday night. He had shared an image of a courtesy meeting between members of the DU unit of Islami Chhatri Sangstha, and the DU Vice-Chancellor, captioning it: ‘Applause for Sir.’
In response to a comment from a Facebook user named GMS Ahmed Reza, who wrote, "Brother, where is the problem in the picture? You do politics, but don’t maintain the minimum sense on where to criticise or troll."
Shamsul Arefin replied: “This is it... that Se_ is what I want to learn from Sir and Sir’s students. Sorry Sense.”
His remarks drew widespread criticism on social media and fuelled anger among students, prompting today’s protest.