17 July decision on student politics remains effective, says DU VC Niaz
To make a formal decision on the matter, the university administration is scheduled to hold a meeting of the Provost Standing Committee today
Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan today (9 August) reaffirmed that the decision taken on 17 July last year to keep residential halls free from student politics remains in effect.
"Student politics in the halls is prohibited according to the 'framework of 17 July 2024'," the vice-chancellor said in front of his residence at around 2:45am today (9 August) after students staged protests demanding a ban on hall politics.
To make a formal decision on the matter, the university administration is scheduled to hold a meeting of the Provost Standing Committee today.
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The administration will also hold discussions with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal on the issue.
The vice-chancellor said, "We do not want any form of coercive politics. We do not want politics that give rise to 'gono room' (shared, overcrowded rooms at halls). The decision you made on 17 July will remain in effect."
He added, "We are moving towards holding the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections. I am reassured to see your positive attitude regarding Ducsu."
After the vice-chancellor's decision, students returned to their halls.
Later, University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed told the media that the decision to ban student politics in the halls was already in place, and the vice-chancellor confirmed that the 17 July agreement would remain in effect.
He said, "We cannot force any political party, but regarding violations of rules, we have a Provost Standing Committee meeting at 11am today. We will make a decision there. We will also sit with the student organisations mentioned in this matter."
The "framework" refers to a letter signed by provosts of some of the residential halls at the university on 17 July 2024, pledging to ban 'student politics' amid the quota reform movement.
The students collected the signatures on the pledge after a move to throw out Chhatra League leaders from residential halls began around midnight that day.
Along with the ban on student politics, several other instructions were also included in the letters, such as no party politics at dorms, immediate removal of the students whose terms have expired and immediate allotment of seats occupied by non-students based on merit.
Students rally late into night demanding end to hall politics
Yesterday (8 August), at around 11:30pm, students from various halls began chanting slogans demanding a ban on student politics, after the DU unit of Chhatra Dal, the BNP's student wing, announced convening committees for all dormitories earlier in the day.
Most of the students at last night's protest against the hall politics ban were general students who oppose any political presence in their halls.
The protest was mostly coordinated by leaders of the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad. Former Students Against Discrimination leader Umama Fetema led the procession from Sufia Kamal Hall.
A significant number of protesters, who, according to general students, support Islami Chhatra Shibir, also joined the demonstration.
Participation from left-leaning student organisations was minimal.
Around midnight, a procession started from Mohsin Hall, passing Masterda Surja Sen Hall, the hall area, and the VC Chattar, before stopping in front of Rokeya Hall. Female students from Rokeya Hall broke a lock and joined, remaining at Raju Memorial Sculpture until around 1am.
From there, they marched to the vice-chancellor's residence and began a sit-in protest.
Protesters chanted slogans such as "One Two Three Four, Hall Politics No More," "Direct Action Against Guest Rooms," "Direct Action Against Gono Rooms," and "Politics in the Halls—We Won't Allow It."
Samia Akter, joint convener of the Dhaka University branch of the Democratic Student Union, told The Business Standard, "We demand a ban on all forms of student politics—covert or overt—in the halls. The names of members of the 'small teams' in each hall must be disclosed, and their activities must be stopped."
Around 1:30am, when the vice-chancellor arrived, students "surrounded him" and presented their demands.
Representing the university administration, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Saima Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamun Ahmed, Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, President of the Provost Standing Committee Professor Abdullah Al Mamun, and Provost of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall Professor Faruq Shah were present at the scene.
