Most student organisations at Dhaka University have expressed support for continuing hall-based student politics.
They conveyed their stance on Sunday during a meeting with DU Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan over the university’s current political situation.
Some 16 of the 23 student organisations attended the meeting. However, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) Chhatra League, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, and Bangladesh Chhatra Front boycotted it over the presence of Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Among the remaining 13 organisations, all but Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad and Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad supported keeping hall-based politics.
Shibir leaders told the meeting that if students want politics in the halls, it may be run, and if they do not want politics in halls, then we will stand by them.
After the meeting, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan said, “Among general students, there is a certain fear and negative sentiment towards student politics due to long-standing experiences. We have repeatedly urged that no confrontational situation be created under any circumstances.”
Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir Dhaka University unit president SM Forhad said, “We are flexible about whether hall-based politics should exist or not, depending on the opinion of the students.”
