Following the recommendation of the Electoral Reform Commission, a published task force report on re-strategizing the economy also recommended that the government impose a ban on student politics in all public and private universities.
However, student leaders have rejected these recommendations and have expressed their support for party-based student politics on campuses.
Since the student-led mass uprising on August 5, student leaders have played a vital role in governing the country. Their influence has grown from educational institutions to the secretariat.
Experts say that students are now more powerful than ever before.
In this context, the question has arisen: Can the interim government, chosen by the student leaders of the July-August mass uprising, implement these recommendations? How will student leaders respond to proposals to end student politics on campuses?
What does the task force report say?
The 12-member task force was formed by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in September 2024.
Former Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), KAS Murshid, leads the task force.
After releasing the task force report on Monday, titled “Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilizing Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development,” Task Force Chief KAS Murshid outlined the key recommendations and expressed hope that the long-standing tradition of student politics in Bangladesh—which has prevailed since the country’s inception—will finally cease.
Murshid explained that such political activities often infiltrate both faculty and students, creating an atmosphere that can lead to "crude economic corruption."
He also criticized the current trend of student politics in South Asia, asking: "Why should this environment continue? Do any civilized nations accept this? Is there any other region where political parties function on university campuses as they do in South Asia? Does it happen anywhere else?"
Although the task force chief recommended banning student organizations on university campuses that are directly linked with political parties, he also suggested that activism on social, national, or international issues should be welcomed by university students.
"Student politics will always exist. They will express their views, participate in activism, and address social and political concerns. They should assume an active and constructive role. We need to create spaces for that—a proper platform," Murshid added.
Education and Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud echoed these sentiments, saying, "The kind of student politics that obstructs academic progress is harmful."
Earlier, the Electoral Reform Commission had made several recommendations for significant changes in Bangladesh's political system, including a proposal to ban party-biased student politics.
What are the student leaders saying?
Nasir Uddin Nasir, General Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal—the student wing of the BNP—said: "The recommendation to ban student politics is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and against fundamental rights. As a result, the democratic environment on university campuses will be destroyed, and the activities of secret organizations will increase."
He added: "The contribution of student politics to the mass upsurge of July-August is undeniable. A few days ago, renowned intellectual Professor Salimullah Khan said that the university is the best place to practice politics."
Nurul Islam Saddam, general secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir—the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—said: "This recommendation is not beneficial for students in a third-world country like Bangladesh. It would hinder the development of young leaders who will lead in the future."
He continued: "The recommendation may have been influenced by observations of the political culture of the Chhatra League, but that does not represent student politics as a whole. Constructive reform is needed to ensure that the culture of serving the mother party is abolished."
Saikat Arif, general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation—the student wing of Ganosanhati Andolan—said: "Since the 1990s, a specific group has been attempting to ban student politics by portraying it as a form of terrorism. This is part of a deep conspiracy by powerful imperialist countries and domestic entities seeking to control Bangladesh and interfere with its sovereignty. Even some NGOs are funding this effort. They fear these students because they are not easily bought, unlike national leaders. The July uprising is also an example of this."
Mahir Reza, president of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union—the student wing of the Communist Party of Bangladesh—remarked: "It is not a solution to the problem; rather, it is like cutting off one's head to cure a headache. There is no logical basis for such a move. Instead, democratic practices should be encouraged in universities. Even the constitution grants students the right to participate in politics."
He added: "Since the 1990s, many political parties have exploited student politics to serve their own agendas, sometimes pushing students toward terrorism. This culture must be abolished. Student politics should be dedicated to serving students, and those involved in terrorism should be brought to justice."
Jabir Ahmed Jubel, general secretary of the Central Committee of Biplabi Chhatra Moitree, said: "The recommendation of the task force to redefine the economic strategy by stopping student politics on campuses is a shallow approach to state and democratic rights. We oppose such recommendations as they ignore the root of the crisis."
He further said: "At the same time, we believe that terrorism, occupation, and torture occurred in the name of student politics during the last fascist Awami regime, which was completely led by the ruling government with the direct cooperation of the university administration. As a result, the main cause of the crisis was the government party's role—not the university administration's failure to assume responsibility for university autonomy. If full autonomy cannot be ensured in the future, if the administration does not play a strong role in favor of the students, then the ruling party’s occupation will reoccur, whether student politics is banned or not."
