3 student groups walk out of DU meeting over Shibir's attendance
The aggrieved groups alleged that extending an invitation to Shibir was a violation of the "environmental council" principles established after the 1990s
A meeting between Dhaka University (DU) administration and 23 student organisations to discuss the future of student politics in residential halls was disrupted yesterday (10 August) when three groups walked out in protest.
The organisations that left were the Socialist Students' Front, a faction of the Students' Union, and JSD Chhatra League.
The walkout was triggered by the invitation of Islami Chhatra Shibir to the meeting.
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The aggrieved groups alleged that extending an invitation to Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, was a violation of the "environmental council" principles established after the 1990s, which excluded organisations tagged as "war criminals" and linked to the atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War.
Mukta Baroi, president of the Socialist Students' Front, told reporters, "We repeatedly told the administration that a democratic environment is not possible with a genocidal organisation. They have repeatedly shown this audacity and insulted the other student organisations."
Echoing the sentiment, Mahir Shahriar Reza, president of a Students' Union faction, called the administration's explanation for inviting Shibir "disgraceful."
Meanwhile, other student organisations presented their proposals to the university administration.
Abdul Quader, convener of the Bangladesh Ganotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, stated that his organisation does not want any political activities or structures in the dormitories or academic areas, arguing that students do not want to return to the era of "Gonoroom" and "Guestroom" torture.
In contrast, Islami Chhatra Shibir President SM Farhad proposed a referendum, suggesting that the university should conduct an e-mail-based "Yes/No" vote among students to determine the fate of hall politics, with an estimated sample of a framework depicting how student politics should be on campus.
Speaking after the meeting, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan said the administration initiated the discussions to address students' "long-standing negative perceptions, fear, intimidation, and trauma" from past political abuses.
He added that the organisations presented "high-level suggestions" and that discussions would continue.
The DU VC also mentioned that the university's administration is working towards holding a peaceful Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election in the future, with the cooperation of all student groups.
Earlier on Friday (8 August) Dhaka University 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 by the university's Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed.
The move followed remarks by Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, who addressed protesting students at that night 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 2024, under hall administration rules, though the details of this framework remain unclear.
"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 on Saturday (9 August) after students staged protests demanding a ban on hall politics.
