A major conflict has arisen in Bangladesh stemming from plans to prepare beef kachdi near the Jagannath University temple in the capital, Dhaka. This dispute has escalated into a broader conflict concerning religious views, campus rules, and students' right to hold events.
A group of students from the university's Islamic History faculty announced their intention to slaughter a cow and host a meat feast on the day of Mahaashti Durga Puja, which falls on Friday, October 16th. The conflict first flared up on Monday, October 12th, when students from the Islamic History and Culture faculty organized the preparation of beef kachdi near an open area of the university, located close to the campus's central temple.
Hindu students expressed disagreement with the event's location, stating that it offended their religious sentiments. Joy Saha, secretary of the Jagannath University Central Temple Management Committee, told BBC Bangla that after learning about the meat preparation, he spoke with the organizers. He noted that issues arose due to the proximity to the temple, and the organizers were asked to change venues. A verbal altercation ensued between the parties, and Professor Mohammed Azam Khan intervened, sending an assistant proctor to calm the situation. Subsequently, the feast was relocated further away from the temple. The organizers assured that they had no intention of offending anyone's religious feelings.
Later, accusations emerged that temple bricks were used to create a temporary stove for preparing the beef kachdi. According to The Daily Star, the students initially planned to cook the kachdi in the university cafeteria, but due to low gas pressure, they decided to hold the event outdoors. Organizers explained that they used nearby bricks to build the temporary stove, unaware that they belonged to the campus temple. The students later retrieved the bricks, brought a metal stove from the cafeteria, and apologized for the misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, Joy Saha informed BBC Bangla that the main issue was cooking near the temple, not the bricks themselves. Following this, Hindu students held a demonstration and a human chain, demanding an impartial investigation and the security of religious sites on campus.
Following the incident on October 12th, the Jagannath University administration issued a notification on October 14th. It instructed students, faculty, and staff to refrain from animal sacrifices on campus. The administration justified this by citing the need to maintain cleanliness. According to BBC Bangla, the notification referenced a public announcement released by the Dhaka South City Corporation. There are legal restrictions on slaughtering animals outside authorized abattoirs under the Bangladesh Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act of 2011, and violations carry penalties.
Some students disagreed with this notification, viewing it as a restriction on the right to hold meat feasts. Professor Azam Khan stated that the administration received information about the animal slaughter plan and issued the notice to prevent escalating tensions during religious events. Later that same day, the university issued a second notification to clarify its position. The administration stated that the initial dispute was resolved through the intervention of the proctor and negotiations between the parties. The university apologized for the misunderstanding caused by the first notice and emphasized that students have the right to hold events on campus, including those related to animal slaughter. However, it also noted that one group's activities should not cause inconvenience to another.
Despite the university's clarifications, the conflict has not subsided. A group of students announced plans to hold the meat feast on Friday, October 16th, which is seen as a protest against the administration's initial notice. A member of the organizing committee, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Bangla that they originally planned to hold the event after Durga Puja. According to the organizer, after the administration's notice, the students felt their rights were being restricted.
The organizer specified that instead of holding the event near the temple, it would likely take place in the open area near the arts building. According to BBC Bangla, the organizers have raised funds and purchased a cow. The Bangladeshi Islamist Student Council Majlis has also offered to provide another cow. This organization is affiliated with the right-wing Islamist party Hizb ut-Majlis. A call for registration for the event at 70% of the cost has been posted on social media. Abdul Alim Riff, General Secretary of the Jagannath University Central Students' Union, told BBC Bangla that student representatives met with university officials, and an agreement was reached regarding the event. Proctor Azam Khan stated that if the cow is slaughtered, it must be done in a restrained manner to avoid repeated disputes over religious sensitivities. Joy Saha also noted that the temple committee does not object to the cow being slaughtered elsewhere on campus, provided it does not happen in front of the temple or interfere with the temple's activities.
