Fifteen coordinators including a key coordinator of Jagannath University have announced to withdraw from the anti-discrimination student movement.
Among them, 14 have resigned, alleging arbitrariness against the other coordinators.
Meanwhile, Nur Nabi, key coordinator of the Jagannath University (JnU) unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has announced to step down assuming that the initial demands had been met.
In a joint statement on Saturday, 14 coordinators announced their resignation while Nur made the announcement through a post on his Facebook ID on Saturday.
The coordinators who gave the joint statement are Ivan Tahseeb, Kishore Samya, Syam Hossain, Arunabh Ashraf, Mujahid Bappi, Shawreen Hasan Ira, Nazmul Hasan, Faisal Murad, Mohad Anon, Khadija Tul Kubra, Kamrul Hasan Riaz, Kazi Ahad, Apple Maulana, Yubair Ahmed Shafin.
“As a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, I have actively participated in all movements from the beginning. I think our initial demands have been fulfilled. The blood given by the martyrs to build our discrimination-free Bangladesh is yet to be fully implemented. I will participate as a general student in any Anti-Discrimination Movement in this new independent Bangladesh,” said Nur Nabi in his facebook post.
“From today, I have removed myself from the post of Coordinator Of The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. I have been in the field from the beginning without personal interest. I was the victim of the barbaric attack of the Chhatra League … and went to jail. Above all else, I have received your love. I will always be by your side to protect the dignity of that love, In Sha Allah.”
In this regard, Nur Nabi told Dhaka Tribune that efforts are being made to form a political party with those who were directly involved in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
“Earlier, since all kinds of politics were banned from Jagannath University and I did not want to be involved in any politics, I stepped down from the coordinator, he added.
Meanwhile, 14 out of 27 coordinators of JU complained that several coordinators were involved in some unpleasant incidents using the banner of anti-discrimination student movement.
Apart from this, they have also raised allegations of arbitrariness.
In the statement, they said: "We are noticing that many unpleasant incidents are being done in the identity of anti-discrimination student movement across the country, which is very sad. Our Jagannath University is no exception. Since August 5, there have been many incidents which have been blamed on the anti-discrimination student movement. A lot of work has been done from this platform, with which many of the so-called 'coordinators' of the movement have no involvement whatsoever. We reject these actions.”
They also mentioned some examples in the statement.
It further stated: “An advisory council has been established through a mob trial without any discussion among the coordinators, which is unprecedented in any other unit in the country. Why was there a need for the coordinators to form another advisory council? And who constitutes this advisory council? We have never supported advisory councils formed by opportunistic forces.”
They also mentioned: "Political ambition and arbitrariness can be seen in the various activities of Masud Rana, a student of the 15th batch of the university and one of the coordinators.”
They also termed the "Hall Rescue Movement" as a suicidal program.
"In the unstable situation of the country, students may clash with locals and businessmen of old Dhaka based on this program, which is not desirable at all.”
They also accused coordinator Nur Nabi for assaulting general students.
The statement said: "Without any consultation of the coordinators, a liaison committee has been formed in the DC office with the mediation of Abu Bakar. What are the requirements of this Liaison Committee? There is no example for setting up such a liaison committee in the DC office under the banner of anti-discrimination student movement. We think that it is not possible to carry out any fruitful activities without the benefit of some vested quarter.”
Coordinator Kishore Samya told Bangla Tribune: "Since August 5, the controversial activities that have been done in Jagannath University using the name of anti-discrimination student movement, we think that this platform does not support these. As a result of these actions, the platform is losing acceptance. So we think, at this time, there is no need for this platform.”
He also said: “We have tried to highlight what actually happened, what is happening. So that common students have accountability space. And we're not staying on this platform, that's clear. ..Here now muscle power is being used. But we protested against muscle power.”