The Jagannath University beef feast controversy in Dhaka has intensified after a group of students announced plans to organise a beef feast involving cow slaughter on Friday, October 16, coinciding with Maha Shashthi, the beginning of Durga Puja. The dispute began with a beef khichuri cookout near the university’s central temple and has since raised questions about religious sensitivities, campus regulations and students’ rights to organise events.
The university initially issued a notice asking students and staff to refrain from animal slaughter on campus. It later released a clarification saying students could organise events, while urging them to respect others’ religious practices.
How the Beef Khichuri Controversy Began
The dispute started on October 12, when students from the 2021–22 batch of the Department of Islamic History and Culture organised a beef khichuri cookout near Muktamancha, an open-air stage close to the university’s central temple.
Hindu students objected to the location, saying the cooking arrangements near the temple hurt their religious sentiments. According to accounts cited in the report, a heated exchange followed before Professor Md Azam Khan intervened.
The organisers subsequently moved the cooking arrangements farther from the temple and said they had no intention of offending anyone.
Allegations Over Temple Bricks
The controversy widened after allegations emerged that bricks belonging to the temple had been used to construct a temporary oven. Organisers reportedly said they had taken bricks from a nearby location without realising they belonged to the temple.
They later removed the bricks, brought an iron stove from the cafeteria and apologised for the misunderstanding. Temple representatives, however, maintained that the proximity of the cooking activity was their primary concern.
Hindu students subsequently held a demonstration and formed a human chain, demanding an impartial inquiry and safeguards for religious sites on campus.
University Issues Two Notices
On October 14, the university issued a notice asking students, teachers and staff to refrain from slaughtering animals on campus, citing hygiene and the need to prevent tensions.
The notice drew objections from some students, who viewed it as restricting their ability to organise a beef feast. The administration later issued a second notice, apologising for the misunderstanding and clarifying that students could organise campus events, including those involving animal slaughter, while respecting the rights and activities of others.
Students Plan Another Beef Feast
A group of students subsequently announced plans for a beef feast on October 16, describing it as a protest against the administration’s initial notice. Organisers indicated that the event would likely take place in an open field near the Arts Building rather than beside the temple.
According to the report, organisers had collected contributions and purchased a cow. A student organisation affiliated with Khelafat Majlis reportedly offered to provide another animal. Participants were invited to register for 70 taka.
Student representatives said discussions had taken place with university officials, while the proctor urged organisers to proceed in a restrained manner to avoid another dispute.
The temple committee indicated that it did not object to cow slaughter elsewhere on campus, provided it did not take place in front of the temple or disrupt religious activities.
The university has urged students to respect religious differences and ensure campus events do not interfere with others.
For official information, visit the Jagannath University website.
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