Cow named ‘Bakshal’ slaughtered on Mujib’s death anniversary at RU

On the occasion of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s death anniversary, a cow was slaughtered under the name “Bakshal” at Rajshahi University and a “July Feast” was organised under the leadership of Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar.

When asked, Ammar clarified that “not all members” of RUCSU agreed to the arrangement, and therefore, RUCSU cannot be linked to the event, even though its “building” was used for storing food.

Students were invited to apply for the event through a Google Form for the feast. The organizers said around 750 students were participating in the event hosted on the premises of the university’s Central Mosque.

As the programme was organized under the RUCSU banner, it has drawn mixed reactions from students on Facebook.

Imran Laskar, RUCSU’s debate and literature secretary, said, “I do not know whether RUCSU is sacrificing the cow at today’s feast. Let me make it clear that I have no involvement in this event. They have yet to make any clear statement about who is organizing it under the RUCSU banner. Nevertheless, I would urge those involved in the event to clarify through a statement whether the sacrifice is being made on behalf of RUCSU.”

Mehedi Maruf, president of the university unit of the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, said, “Here, the field is ours, the players are ours, and the referee is also ours. So we use students’ money to serve our own political interests. There is no one here to question us! Is this RUCSU’s money? And if it is not RUCSU’s money, then is it zakat money?”

A student named Kaushik Das Kankan wrote in a personal Facebook post, “Salahuddin Ammar is sacrificing a cow using students’ money and the name of RUCSU. Who gave him the authority to waste the students’ money like this?”

In a comment, a student named Nisha Akter wrote, “Yet the quality of food in the halls remains as poor as before. The internet service is in a terrible state. There has been no solution to the residential problems. This is what RUCSU is doing after 35 years.”

Earlier, in a video message on Friday night, Salahuddin Ammar said on his personal Facebook page, “On August 15, the beloved cow that we are bringing for all of you has been named Bakshal. We will sacrifice this Bakshal and celebrate. You can also call it a July Ziaphat, or a July feast.”

In a midnight post on his page, Salahuddin Ammar also wrote, “We laid Bakshal down on the night of August 15. I am Major Salahuddin Ammar speaking.”

A spot visit found students waiting in small groups. Food packets had been prepared and kept inside the RUCSU building. Several tarpaulins were being laid on the grass in front of the Central Mosque for students to sit on. Students began arriving at around 1:45pm after the Zuhr prayers. At 2:10pm, food was seen being transported in a van from the RUCSU building.

Asked about the organizers, RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar said, “Today is the historic day of the fall of Bakshal and the second anniversary of the July Uprising. That is why the cow was named Bakshal. Initially, the programme was promoted on behalf of RUCSU. However, not all RUCSU members agreed with it. Later, one of our brothers gifted the cow. RUCSU is not involved here.”