It is not right to return student politics forcibly
Dr Jatin Sarkar, eminent educationist
Student politics can be resumed in BUET if students want
- Dr Satya Prasad Majumder, VC, BUET
Drama of banning student politics must be stopped
- Saddam Hussein, President, BCL
Students are not against student politics, but against the ill-politics of BCL
- Rakibul Islam, President, Chhatra Dal
BCL is trying to portray students' movement as 'Shibir's movement' which is completely illogical
- Rafiquzzaman Farid, GS, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front
After the murder of Abrar Fahad, student politics was banned at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Since the ban, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has tried to bring back student politics in the university several times. The organization has been trying to do so out of fear of increasing militancy or extremism. But repeated attempts have failed in the face of general student obstruction.
Last Thursday, a group of BCL activists entered the university at midnight. The general students of the university took to the streets in protest. They are protesting by boycotting the exams. As a result, discussions again rise across the country about the future of student politics of the university. Leaders of the opposition student organizations are blaming the BCL for banning student politics. The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university said that student politics can be resumed in BUET if the students want.
Meanwhile, BUET students staged demonstrations and sit-ins on the campus for the third consecutive day demanding ban on student politics. The students have continued the program of boycotting classes and examinations to implement the demand. However, no student took part in yesterday's examination except a regular student and an irregular student. Of the 1,215 students of the 20th batch, 1,214 did not take part in the examination. As a result, the moral position of the students against student politics is proved.
According to the academic schedule of BUET, the semester final examinations of the students were supposed to be held now. But the university administration could not take these tests due to the boycott of the students.
Regarding the ongoing movement and not participating in yesterday's examination at BUET, the general students said that they are not demanding punishment for any personal political activities of BUET students outside BUET. Rather, punishment is being sought for those who violated the rules while entering the campus on that night and infiltrated with political leaders inside BUET. There was no incident of torture on campus, halls or classes. The accusation is completely false.
Regarding the allegation that BUET students are not active in other political parties or banned organizations other than BCL, they said such allegations are baseless. They have always been vocal against any kinds of politics. If such allegations are proved, they will also launch a movement against those involved.
The general students also claimed, “We, the students of BUET hold the ideals of the Liberation War in our hearts. The celebration and participation of our university on national days is a proof of the culture of our university. To prove this, there is no need to do partisan politics by insulting the decision of all ordinary students on the campus after the death of Abrar Fahad.”
Regarding student politics of BUET, eminent educationist Dr Jatin Sarkar told The Daily Post that the students of the university have a negative idea about student politics. So the students do not want student politics to come back. That's what they want. It will not be right to return student politics to them by force.
Professor Gobinda Chakraborty of Dhaka University's political science department said that it is the right of students to do politics. Politics cannot be banned. Student politics has been banned in BUET due to a problem, that incident should not happen again. The educational environment should not be disrupted due to politics. The university administration has to fulfill this responsibility well. Banning politics in educational institutions is not the solution.
Opposition student body statement
Meanwhile, leaders of the opposition student organizations have blamed the BCL for the ban on student politics in BUET. Chhatra Dal central president Rakibul Islam Rakib told The Daily Post that it is a traditional feature of BCL that they always stand against the wishes of the general students. BCL is solely responsible for the unexpected situation that has been created in BUET. The students are not protesting against student politics, rather they are protesting against the ill-politics of BCL.
Rafiquzzaman Farid, general secretary of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said that BCL cannot avoid responsibility for the situation that has been created in BUET today. This organization used to carry out ill-politics, terrorist activities and occupation in the name of politics. BUET turned the halls of the campus into torture cells. Their violence and occupation were so intense that they beat student Abrar Fahad to death. Then there was talk of banning politics on the BUET campus. Speaking against terrorism, occupation, there was a demand to stop student politics. Expressing solidarity with their attitude of fighting against terrorism and occupation, we would like to say that undemocratic-fascist forces will take root when healthy political practice is disrupted on the campus. Occupation, terrorism, communalism etc are the result of this.
He also said, "The way BCL is trying to portray the BUET students' movement as 'Shibir's movement' and the agitators as 'Shibir' is completely illogical and unjust. It will not bring any good results. Marking any opposition opinion as Shibir, BCL is choosing the hateful path of eliminating opposition opinion. At the same time, this process is strengthening the politics of Chhatra Shibir. I urge the student community to think about the whole issue."
Meanwhile, BCL president Saddam Hussain demanded a ban on drama in the name of banning student politics. BCL staged a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka yesterday protesting the ban on student politics at BUET. Chhatra League president Saddam Hussain said, we are fighting for establishing fundamental rights here today. This decision of BUET is against fundamental rights, constitution and anti-education. We demand the withdrawal of the decision to cancel the seat of BCL central committee leader and BUET student Imtiaz Hossain.
He also said, "What is the Rabbi's crime? He distributed Iftar on March 17, the birthday of the Father of the Nation, who is architecture of Bangladesh. March 26 paid tribute to the martyr. The flag of this country, the map of this country, if someone is banned for being an activist of the organization whose workers have given blood for the right to vote and food in this country, that area should be banned."
The BCL president added that the drama of banning student politics should be stopped from Bangladesh. As a citizen, I have the right to go anywhere in Bangladesh. Do I need permission from them? Those who expect us to accept the rights that the Constitution has given me are living in a fool's paradise. Is BUET Pakistan that we have to enter with visa-passport permits?"
Saddam Hussein also commented that 'politics of darkness' is being cultivated in the name of banning student politics in BUET. He also demanded the authorities to introduce student politics in BUET as well as arrange for student union elections.
Student politics can be resumed in BUET if students want
BUET Vice-Chancellor Dr Satya Prasad Majumder said student politics can be resumed at the university if the teachers and students want. The Vice-Chancellor said this to reporters at his office yesterday. The VC said student politics is needed for the development of students. If the teachers and students of BUET want, student politics can be started again.
It is to be noted that student politics was banned on the BUET campus in the wake of student movement after the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad in 2019. Students of BUET have been staging a sit-in program for two consecutive days protesting the entry of BCL activists on the campus at midnight on Wednesday.
According to the students, at least 70 to 80 BCL activists entered the campus with motorcycles and cars through the main gate of BUET at 1:30 am on last Wednesday. Saddam Hussein was also there. They met in the seminar room of the cafeteria, where there were arrangements for eating and drinking. BCL leaders and activists have been 'showdown' on the campus for a long time with motorcycles and cars. The university authorities have cancelled the hall seat of leader Imtiaz Rahim following student protests.
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