Rising Cyberbullying and Smear Campaigns Ahead of Jahangirnagar University Elections
As Jahangirnagar University gears up for its Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) elections, scheduled for September 11—its first in 33 years—serious concerns have emerged surrounding cyberbullying and smear campaigns targeting candidates, particularly women.
The Emergence of Smear Campaigns
In light of the absence of clear guidelines for online campaigning, at least 15 Facebook pages and groups have recently heightened their activity, allegedly engaging in smear campaigns against various candidates. Some of the implicated pages include JU Update, JU Family, and JU Crush & Confession.
Candidates from political organizations such as the Bangladesh Ganotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, and others have reported experiencing coordinated harassment online. Numerous candidates have connected these accounts to Chhatra Shibir, while some have pointed to radical organizations opposed to women’s roles in leadership as the instigators of these attacks.
Concerns Voiced by Candidates
Sharan Ahsan, who is likely to run for the position of general secretary from the Sompritir Oikkya panel, commented on the broad target of these attacks, stating that they not only affect women but also indigenous and other students who oppose extremist ideologies. He expressed worry that such tactics could unduly influence the election outcome.
Echoing these sentiments, Shah Mohammad Faysal Hossain, joint convener of JU Chhatra Dal, accused a specific group of orchestrating smear campaigns aimed at undermining women candidates. “Radical groups fear women’s leadership, and their aim is to discourage women from both running and voting,” he claimed.
Faiza Mehzabin, president of Jahangirnagar Sanskritik Jote, also emphasized that available evidence suggests extremist groups are working to undermine women’s candidacy and participation in the elections. She warned that failure by the election commission to address these issues could lead to questions regarding the overall fairness of the electoral process.
Counterarguments and Institutional Responses
In response to these allegations, Chhatra Shibir has denied involvement in any smear campaigns. Majharul Islam, the group’s Office Secretary, stated, “We don’t run fake pages or bots. Even female candidates from our panel face hate online.” He also conveyed that they have submitted a memorandum to the election commission advocating for action against these smear campaigns.
The Role of Academia and Administration
Digital media expert Saeed Al-Zaman, who serves as an assistant professor of journalism and media studies at JU, highlighted the significant threat posed by such smear campaigns to the political engagement of students, especially swing voters. “When accurate information is obstructed by propaganda, fair participation suffers,” he warned, calling for the closure of unauthorized propaganda pages using the university’s name.
Rezwana Karim Snigdha, an associate professor of anthropology and a member of the JU Election Commission, deemed the smear campaigns “ideologically motivated,” stressing the need for collaboration with national agencies like the BTRC to combat these issues. She mentioned that while the commission is aware of the problem, addressing it requires more resources than they currently possess.
Prof. Sohel Ahmed, the JU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), indicated that the administration is prepared to seek assistance from the BTRC to block malicious pages if recommended by the election commission. Moreover, he confirmed that individuals responsible for these offenses would face disciplinary actions under university regulations.
Conclusion
As the elections draw nearer, the increasing prevalence of cyberbullying and smear campaigns raises alarms about the inclusivity and safety of female candidates. The ongoing discussions and institutional responses will play a crucial role in determining the integrity of the electoral process at Jahangirnagar University.
