A beef feast held for two consecutive days at Jagannath University has sparked questions and controversy. After the university’s central students’ union, JnUCSU, organised a beef feast on Friday, the university unit of Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis held a similar event on Saturday. Some teachers and students have questioned the rationale for such events during Durga Puja.

On Saturday morning, a cow was slaughtered on the road between the vice-chancellor’s building and the Department of Mathematics. In the afternoon, beef tehari was distributed in front of the Central Shaheed Minar, followed by a qawwali programme in the evening.

The organisers said food had been arranged for more than 600 people. They collected a registration fee of Tk 40 per person and bought a cow for Tk 85,000. They also said mutton kacchi biryani had been arranged for students from the Sanatan Hindu community.

Obaidul Islam, member secretary of the university unit of Khelafat Chhatra Majlis, told Prothom Alo that the beef feast and qawwali programme were organised to promote harmony and mutual respect among students of different religions and viewpoints. He also described the event as a protest programme.

University Proctor Professor Azam Khan said the administration was initially reluctant to grant permission for Saturday’s event but later approved it subject to certain conditions.

Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, a professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, said he viewed the event as an expression of religious hostility. In his opinion, activities that create fear among members of other communities should not take place on a university campus.

Leaders of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and the Socialist Students’ Front also expressed concern about the implications of holding such an event during Durga Puja and the risk of creating tensions on campus.

On the night of October 12, several students from the 2021–22 academic session of Jagannath University’s Department of Islamic History and Culture arranged to cook beef khichuri at the open-air stage area near the university’s central temple.

Some Hindu students objected, alleging that cooking beef in front of the temple had hurt their religious sentiments. There were also allegations that bricks from the temple had been used to build the cooking stove. The incident subsequently triggered protests.

On October 14, the university’s proctor’s office issued a notice asking people to refrain from slaughtering animals on campus, citing public health, cleanliness and the need to maintain a hygienic environment.

In protest against the notice, JnUCSU organised a procession and rally, presenting four demands, including the withdrawal of the notice.

The university administration later said everyone had the right to organise events, including animal slaughter, on campus. However, it stressed that such activities should not obstruct other events or activities. The administration also expressed regret that misunderstandings had led to tensions.