DU bans student politics in residential halls, enforcement remains uncertain

Highlights

• Protests sparked by Chhatra Dal's announcement of 18 hall committees
• Students demand ban on hall politics, resignations from political group members
• Ban requires approval from university syndicate to become official
• Provost Committee met to discuss ban, talks with student groups to continue

Dhaka University (DU) has announced a ban on all forms of student politics, both open and covert, within its residential halls in response to ongoing protests. The decision was announced late on Friday by the university's Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed.

The move follows remarks by Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, who addressed protesting students at midnight over the recent announcement of committees for the BNP's student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, in all halls. 

He said political activities in halls would be strictly regulated according to a decision made on 17 July, under hall administration rules, though the details of this framework remain unclear.

Meanwhile, the university's Provost Standing Committee met today (9 August) from noon until 5:30pm to discuss calls for the ban. Although no official statement has yet been issued, a provost, on condition of anonymity,  said discussions with student organisations on the matter would continue.

A senior law faculty member, also speaking anonymously, said that while the vice-chancellor can announce such a ban, it must be approved by the university's highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, to become official. 

"The administration may seek to formalise the ban through this body," the faculty member said.

However, political analyst and anthropology Professor Zobaida Nasreen criticised the approach as undemocratic. "Vice-chancellors often make promises during protests that the Syndicate later rubber-stamps. This undermines dissent and bypasses proper democratic procedures," she said.

2 core demands

The students' current protests focus on two demands: a total ban on all political activities, public or covert, inside the halls; and that members of political student organisations resign and submit written declarations to remain in the halls, failing which they should be expelled.

Adiba Mun, a Sociology student and resident of Rokeya Hall for the 2020-21 session, told The Business Standard, "No one involved in politics is part of this campaign. All the students in the hall participated with the single goal of keeping politics out."

Impact on Ducsu elections

Dhaka University's Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections are scheduled for 9 September. Students separately elect leaders for central and hall unions, with political groups usually fielding separate panels.

Professor Jasimuddin Ahmed, chief returning officer of Ducsu, told TBS, "Ducsu is officially apolitical. While informal panels exist, all candidates apply as independents. Many may have political ties, but Ducsu itself is not a partisan body."

Leadership in protest

On Friday morning, Chhatra Dal announced committees for 18 halls. In response, students began protests that afternoon demanding a ban on hall politics. They staged demonstrations and submitted memorandums to provosts before leaving the halls around midnight.

Umama Fatema, former spokesperson of the Students Against Discrimination, warned on social media that if the committees were not suspended by Friday night, students would take stricter action.

Many leaders of Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad have been prominent in the protests. Abdul Kader, convener of the DU unit of Chhatra Sangsad, said in a Friday press conference, "Following the 2024 mass uprising, student politics must be restructured to prioritise student demands and aspirations. We call for dialogue among students, active organisations, and university administration to resolve this crisis."

On Saturday afternoon, Abdul Kader told TBS that several Chhatra Sangsad members resigned the previous night in protest against the organisation's vague stance on the matter.

He explained that those members, wounded by past bitter experiences of hall politics, reject student politics at halls. "Our organisation is new and still grooming members," he said. "Ultimately, a collective discussion and agreed framework is the solution."

Responses from other student orgs

Repeated calls to DU Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon went unanswered. However, Chhatra Dal organised a "clap rally" on campus on Saturday.

DU Chhatra Shibir president SM Farhad told the media, "The university has made many verbal announcements before. We can't trust promises without written policy. The administration should consult all stakeholders to ensure rights for those who want politics and those who don't."

He added, "Without clear definitions, it is impossible to know what is banned or allowed. The administration has not clarified consequences for compliance or violation, so it is difficult to comment."

Jabir Ahmed Jubel of Revolutionary Student Unity, a progressive left-wing group, told TBS, "The proctor does not have authority to ban hall politics. There is no legal basis for this ban. While there was a moral consensus after the uprising, Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Sangsad have broken that. Banning hall politics is no solution. The administration and student organisations must reach consensus on how politics should be conducted."