The
Dhaka University administration has decided to halt all forms of political
activities involving students, teachers, and staff on campus. This decision was
made during a meeting of the university’s highest policy-making forum syndicate,
held yesterday (Thursday, September 19). The ban will remain in effect until
further notice.
The
Syndicate’s emergency meeting took place yesterday from 7 pm to 8:45 pm at a
lounge adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor’s office. Of the 17 members of the
Syndicate, 15 attended the meeting.
Two
Syndicate members who participated in the meeting, speaking on the condition of
anonymity, confirmed that the decision to suspend all political activities
involving students, teachers, and staff was made unanimously. The decision will
remain effective until further instructions are given.
One
of the 9-point demand raised by students during the quota reform movement was
to ban partisan politics on campus. On August 5, the ruling Awami League
government was overthrown following the student-led mass protests.
Subsequently, a group of students held demonstrations and rallies calling for a
ban on party-affiliated politics at the university.
For
some time, a group of students has been campaigning to ban party-based student
politics at Dhaka University. The Dhaka University Research Council recently
conducted a survey on the matter from September 3 to 11. A total of 2,237
students from the 2017-18 to 2023-24 academic sessions, representing 78
departments and 10 institutes of the university, participated in the survey. A
majority of respondents expressed opposition to party-centric student politics.
The results of the survey were revealed at a press conference organized by the
Dhaka University Journalists Association on September 17.
According
to the survey, 96 percent of the participating students believe that
party-centric student politics has a negative impact on the academic
environment of the university. Among them, 83.8 percent want a complete ban on
partisan student politics, while 16 percent prefer reforms. Only 0.2 percent of
students wish to maintain the status quo.
Notably,
several residential halls of the university have already banned all forms of
politics within their premises.