RU Chhatra Dal stages sit-in protesting harassment of female activists during ‘attack by Shibir, SAD, affiliated groups’

Leaders and activists of Rajshahi University unit Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal have staged a sit-in programme on the campus demanding the inclusion of first-year students in the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) voter list, and in protest against the harassment of their female activists during an attack yesterday allegedly by leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Students Against Discrimination (SAD).

Around 12:30pm, Chhatra Dal activists started the demonstration in front of the RU administration building.

They alleged that their peaceful programme was attacked yesterday by creating a mob allegedly on the instructions of Shibir and a few former SAD coordinators that left some of their activists injured.

"Our female activists were attacked during our programme yesterday. We were harassed, verbally abused and subjected to cyberbullying. Yet, the administration has failed to provide security for us," Zahin Sultan Esha, general secretary of RU Chhatra Dal, told The Business Standard.

RU Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi alleged that yesterday a mob was created on the campus to attack their programme. "During the attack by Shibir, 10 of our members were injured and admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital."

Rahi claimed that instead of addressing their demands, the university administration, after receiving Tk 15 lakh from Vice Chancellor Saleh Hasan Naqib, allowed Shibir, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and several of their smaller affiliated groups to attack Chhatra Dal's programme.

"Our female activists were harassed and molested."

What happened yesterday?

Yesterday, Chhatra Dal held a sit-in programme, demanding the inclusion of first-year students (session 2024-25) in the Rucsu voter list. At one stage, they allegedly locked the main gate of the treasurer's office and vandalised it, halting the nomination paper collection process for Rucsu polls.

After that, scuffles and tussles erupted between Chhatra Dal and activists of Shibir, the Students' Rights Association, and a few former SAD coordinators, flaring tensions on campus.

In the afternoon, activists of Shibir, the Students' Rights Association, and SAD broke the lock and entered the treasurer's office, and collected nomination papers.

In the evening, the Election Commission called a meeting at the Senate Building to resolve the prevailing situation on campus. However, Chhatra Dal, Democratic Students' Alliance, and the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad boycotted the meeting, citing the absence of a democratic environment and that the individuals who attacked the Chhatra Dal programme had been invited to the meeting.

Today, Chhatra Dal leaders announced that their protest programmes will continue until the first-year students (session 2024-25) are included in the Rucsu voter list and a neutral election commission is formed for the polls. "Our legitimate demands must be accepted. The movement will continue until our demands are met," President Rahi said.

Rucsu elections 2025 are scheduled to be held on 25 September, according to Chief Election Commissioner Prof F Nazrul Islam.

Election Commissioner Prof Mostofa Kamal Akand said the administration has been informed about granting voting rights to first-year students. "If the administration can arrange that, then their inclusion will be made accordingly."