Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, recently courted controversy by breaking years of tradition to form committees at 41 private universities of the country.
North South University (NSU), Brac University, East West University (EWU), and American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB) are among the private universities that now have Chhatra League committees. Integrated Private University Chhatra League announced the formation of the committees before the press on September 3.
Laws regarding the operation of private universities do not make any mention of political activities on the campus, and student wings of political parties have never had a direct presence at private universities before as the institutions are supposed to be politically neutral. Several of the universities have expressed concern that this neutrality and security on the campus may be threatened by the formation of student political committees.
After the recent announcement from Chhatra League, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), AIUB, NSU, and other notable private universities issued statements on political activities on its campus. The universities recognized the glorious history of student politics in the country but said political activities would be banned on the campuses as private universities strive to be non-partisan.
When contacted, Education Ministry officials said the formation of political committees at private universities was not their concern, and the decision would ultimately rest with the university authorities and student political organizations.
The Bangladesh Private University Association in a statement also said that the students and authorities of private universities would decide on whether political parties would be allowed on their campuses.
“We believe that the private universities will take appropriate decisions in the interest of maintaining a suitable environment for the students to study according to their policies, discipline and regulations,” the statement said.
University Grant Commission (UGC) sources confirmed that existing laws on the operation of private universities in Bangladesh neither allow nor disallow political activities on campuses.
No criticism at the start
Joydeb Nandi, former vice president of BCL, told Dhaka Tribune the initiative to launch committees at private universities did not get much criticism when it was first conceived around 10 years ago.
“We formed the Integrated Private University Chhatra League in October 2012, and it did not get much criticism at the time. Criticisms have grown louder after we announced the committees at private universities recently,” he said.
He added that the presence of progressive student political organizations on private university campuses may help counteract the activities of militant groups such as Islami Chhatra Shibir and Hizb-ut Tahrir, and these insidious groups may be responsible for the uptick in criticism.
“I think not only Chattra League, other progressive student organizations like Chattra Dal and Chattra Union should also start political activities at private universities to defy hidden militant forces,” Joydeb further said.
According to the Chhatra League leader, the Integrated Private University Chhatra League was formed as a separate organizational unit with the collaboration of all private universities, similarly to the organizational units governing Chhatra League units at law and medical colleges of the country.
Chhatra League President Al Nahian Khan Joy said: “I think politics is necessary within the campus as it gives us a space to voice our political opinions. The lack of politics on college or University campuses tends to make them authoritarian and undemocratic, which is not healthy.”
He criticized the statements from private universities that banned political activities, mentioning that student politics was not disallowed anywhere in the Private University Act, 2010.
Al-Amin Rahman, student of Dhaka University and private university secretary of the Chhatra League central committee, told this correspondent: “This was the first time we arranged a yearly conference at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium of the capital. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader was the Chief guest. Now the integrated Private University Committee will get status as a separate district unit and all the private university committees will get the status of Thana committee.”
Chhatra League sources said more than 50,000 students are currently studying at around 100 private universities of Bangladesh. A significant number of the students expressed interest in participating in student politics.
However, some former leaders of the Chhatra League who are members of the cabinet and the ruling party expressed reservations about the formation of the committees.
In an informal conversation, one former Chhatra League leader wishing anonymity told this correspondent: “If student politics begins in the private universities, there may be some drawbacks. Right now, students are only studying at private universities and after completing studies they are looking to establish their careers. The system runs smoothly, without any session jam, and the introduction of student politics might hamper this.”
