Private university students call off protest against lack of representation in student org

The combined private university unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has postponed the previously announced protest programme for today (27 February).

MJH Manju, convener of the unit, gave this information in a post on his verified Facebook page.

MJH Manju wrote in his post, "I request everyone to be patient in the national interest. We cannot even imagine how opportunists will act. Considering the overall situation of the country and the people, today's previously announced programme of the private university unit has been postponed."

The protesters of the suspended programmes were all students of various private universities.

Pvt university students block road in front of SAD office in Bangla Motor for one hour

They were demanding "proper representation" in the new student organisation.

They also alleged that Dhaka University students have been given priority in the committee.

On the other hand, the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad has called an emergency press conference at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University today afternoon regarding the current situation.

Earlier yesterday, Students from various private universities blocked the Shahbagh-bound lane in the capital's Bangla Motor near the office of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) for an hour.

The students started the blockade at 10:00pm protesting reported attacks on their fellow students during the launch of Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, a new student organisation led by SAD coordinators at the Dhaka University. 

Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad launched amid clashes over posts

"Our movement will continue to protest the attack on us at DU and demand justice," Mahmudul Hasan Mahmud, joint member secretary of the Combined Private University Students Against Discrimination, told The Business Standard on the spot.

The protesters also alleged the organisation - the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad- prioritised public university students as leaders while overlooking private university students.

Earlier on the day, some SAD coordinators officially launched the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad amid protests by private university students.

The launch took place at a press conference at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University (DU) today (26 February).

However, tensions quickly escalated when clashes erupted between DU and private university students at the Madhur Canteen, Mall Chattar, and DU Central Library areas over the issue of posts.

During the press briefing, a group of private university students raised slogans against DU students. "We don't accept any committee without private university students," they chanted, among other slogans, including "We will not let the blood of the private go in vain," and "In difficult times, Rifat Bhai, we did not forget you."

On the other hand, a group of DU students entered Madhur Canteen from the Ducsu building and raised slogans like "Education, unity, freedom" and "Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad."

Coordinators of some universities outside Dhaka told TBS that a group was raising slogans in anger because the dispute over posts was not resolved.