Amid mounting student protests, the Dhaka University (DU) administration has declared a ban on student politics in its dormitories, reaffirming the decision first announced on July 17, 2024.
The declaration came at 2:45am on Saturday delivered by Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed in the presence of Vice-chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan.
The protests had erupted around midnight, with students across several dormitories demanding an end to student politics. Female students joined the demonstrations after breaking through the dormitory gates.
At 2:30am, while addressing the crowd gathered outside his residence, the vice-chancellor stated: "Our position is very clear - student politics will be controlled at the hall level according to the July 17th framework, period," he said.
This decision came following arguments and counterarguments between agitated students and DU administration, after students barricaded the vice-chancellor's residence.
While arguments between DU vice-chancellor and agitated students, DU VC stated several times that very soon a 'code of conduct' will be formulated regarding what student organizations can or cannot do in this upcoming election.
However, citing the written agreement during July uprising between the students and past administration on the ban of student politics in dormitories, DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed quoted the Vice-Chancellor and stated that the agreement on 17th of July will remain in force, thus politics will be 'banned' in the dormitory areas, to reporters later around 2:55am on Saturday.
The protesting students came to the street around 1am on Saturday. Initially, students from the Hall para area of DU came with a protest in front of Ruqayyah Hall, and Ruqayyah Hall students joined them after breaking the locks at the hall gate.
After a brief rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture of DU, the protesting students moved in front of the vice-chancellor's residence. Around 1:15am, protesters from Shamsunnahar Hall and Sufia Kamal Hall joined the protest, and several other halls followed.
The protesting students demanded hall administration to ‘cancel’ the seat allotments of JCD DU’s new committee members as long as they don’t dissolve their committees, all ‘open’ and ‘covert’ committees of various student organizations to be ‘abolished’ after disclosing them publicly, and hall and university administration to ‘apologize’ after acknowledging their ‘incapacity’.
They further demanded DU administration to remain ‘vigilant’ to prevent any attempt to ‘thwart’ the upcoming Ducsu election, Ducsu election to be held at the previously announced date, and implement the agreement on July 17 of 2024 by the students to ‘ban’ student politics on campus.
DU proctor later clarified the administration's stand, as student politics will remain 'banned' in dormitories. Regarding the JCD DU committees, he stated that the administration has no 'authority' over dissolving committees.
He also stated that there will be a meeting with the Provost committee on Saturday around 11 am, and after that meeting, they will be able to reach and disclose further decisions.
Adiba Sayma, one of the protesters from Ruqayyah Hall, stated at the rally that they 'denounce' all sorts of gifts from all student organizations.
Anika Tahsin, another protester from Ruqayyah Hall, stated that this (sending gifts) is a way for student organizations to 'politicize' the halls.
Citing that Ruqayyah Hall was the first hall to oust the BCL last year, she stated that only DUCSU's politics can be allowed in the halls of DU.
Earlier, on Friday, around 4:40pm, a group of Dhaka University students protested at the vice-chancellor's residence, condemning the revival of hall politics after July's uprising. Protesters demanded immediate withdrawal of the committees, arguing that DU students should only elect representatives through DUCSU elections, not serve political parties.
Similar protests occurred at Ruqayyah and Sufia Kamal halls. Umama Fatema, an anticipated DUCSU VP candidate, called the committees a "betrayal" of the July uprising, warning of "strong measures" if committees aren't halted, on a Facebook post.
The Bangladesh Democratic Student Council (BDSC) condemned the return of "authoritarian student politics," with Convener Abdul Qader noting that economically vulnerable students become "hostages" to hall politics, at a press briefing arranged by BDSC around 5:30pm at Madhur Canteen.