HighLights
  1. Beef khichuri cooked near Hindu temple sparked row.
  2. Students protested campus slaughter ban with cow sacrifice.
  3. Controversy raised concerns over religious sentiments and rules.

Bangladesh Beef Khichuri Row: A massive controversy has erupted over a beef event near a Hindu temple at Jagannath University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The row escalated further on Friday after a group of students linked to Jamaat-e-Islami held a cow-slaughter event as a protest against the university administration’s initial notice restricting animal slaughter on campus. The incident which comes amid Durga Puja festivities has raised concerns over religious sensitivities and campus rules.

What Triggered The Controversy?

The dispute began on Monday when students from the 17th batch (2021-22 academic session) of the Department of Islamic History and Culture organised a beef khichuri cookout near Muktamancha, open-air stage close to the university’s central temple. According to The Daily Star and other local media outlets, Hindu students objected to the location, stating that cooking beef so close to the temple hurt their religious sentiments.

Speaking to BBC Bangla, Joy Saha, member secretary of the university’s Central Temple Management Committee stated that students had approached the organisers after discovering that beef was being cooked. A heated exchange followed before Professor Md Azam Khan intervened and sent an assistant proctor to control the situation. Following the intervention, organisers moved further away from the temple.

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Dispute Over Temple Bricks

The controversy grew further after allegations emerged that the students had used bricks belonging to the temple to build a temporary oven. The Daily Star reported that organisers had initially planned to cook the khichuri in the cafeteria but they moved outdoors due to low gas pressure. They said they had picked up nearby bricks without knowing they belonged to the temple.

The students later removed the bricks, brought an iron stove and also apologised for the misunderstanding. However, as per reports, Hindu students staged a demonstration and formed a human chain that night. They demanded an impartial inquiry and protection for religious shrines on campus.

Notices Issued

Following the dispute, the university administration issued a notice on Wednesday, asking students, teachers and staff to refrain from slaughtering animals on campus, citing the need to maintain hygiene. However, the announcement triggered objections from students who saw it as a restriction on their right to organise a beef feast. A group of students then announced plans for a cow-slaughter event on Friday, coinciding with Maha Shashthi.

Cow Slaughter Performed As Protest

According to the NewAge BD outlet, students at Jagannath University slaughtered a cow beside the Vice-Chancellor’s residence at 8:00 am on Friday to protest against the university administration's ban on animal slaughter on campus.

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