JCD questions source of funding for Chhatra Shibir's Iftar expenses

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, on Friday raised concerns about the source of funds used by Chhatra Shibir for their Iftar expenses.
 
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan, JCD General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir questioned how the Shibir, which claims to spend three lakh taka every day on Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan, is able to fund such a large sum.
 
"The General Secretary of Shibir mentioned yesterday (Thursday) that they are spending three lakh taka every day on Iftar. If this is accurate, they will spend a total of 90 lakh taka throughout the holy month of Ramadan," he said.
 
"We would like to ask them, through you (the media), how they are earning this 90 lakh taka as an ordinary student organisation, and from where their funding is coming," Nasir added.
 
Nasir claimed that the JCD ensures transparency in its earnings and expenses. "As a student organisation, we work for the welfare of ordinary students, and the funds we spend for them are managed with full transparency and accountability," he added.
 
Meanwhile, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib dismissed the allegations made by Sarjis Alam, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (North Region), regarding protests by students at North South University, calling them "baseless and fabricated."
 
Speaking at the press conference, Rakib said, "An unfortunate and unpleasant incident occurred between Sarjis Alam and students from a private university on 5th March. We have observed a malicious trend of attempting to involve the BNP and its student wing Chhatra Dal whenever an unpleasant incident occurs... This is extremely concerning."
 
He said the conflict between Sarjis Alam and the students of North South University stemmed from ongoing internal tensions between the National Citizen Party and the Democratic Students' Alliance at Dhaka University versus private universities.
 
"But sadly, Sarjis Alam tried to politicise the incident by blaming Chhatra Dal in a Facebook post. His claims are completely baseless and fabricated," he said.
 
The JCD President also said Sarjis Alam, in his post, referred to the students of North South University as terrorists, criminals, and street urchins. "Thus, he insulted not only the students of North South University but also all private university students in the country."
 
"We strongly condemn his arrogant and hateful statements. His remarks dishonour the unprecedented sacrifices made by private university students during the mass uprising of July-August. We demand that he withdraw his statement immediately," he said.
 
Rakib said there was no conflict between Sarjis Alam and JCD leaders or workers at North South University, and that Sarjis Alam had intentionally blamed the JCD for the incident.
 
He also alleged that Sarjis Alam staged a showdown at North South University together with the members of the banned Chhatra League and suspects of the July-August genocide. "This indicates that the National Citizens Party is rehabilitating members of the banned Chhatra League, which we strongly condemn."
 
Rakib clarified that the JCD had no organisational activities on March 5 and its leaders and activists were not present at the scene.