Progress of Implementing Student Politics Ban at DU: What's the Current Status?
Dhaka University Continues to Enforce Ban on Student Politics in Halls
Dhaka University (DU) maintains a strict ban on student politics within residential halls, as first established on July 17, 2024. This ban, aimed at keeping residential areas free from partisan influence, remains firmly enforced by the university administration despite ongoing student protests and resistance.
Current Status
Political organizing is allowed only in central campus areas outside the halls, such as the Midday Canteen, but not inside residential halls. The university administration, particularly the Vice-Chancellor (Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan) and the Proctor (Saifuddin Ahmed), have been enforcing this policy through dialogue and cooperation with hall administrations and students themselves.
Challenges Faced
Despite the ban, some student organizations continue to attempt political activities in halls covertly or by forming committees, leading to confrontations and student unrest. This creates a complex reality for the university administration, as they strive to balance student political rights with maintaining hall depoliticization.
Proposed and Implemented Solutions
The university administration has been engaging in ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders, including students, hall authorities, and active student organizations, to build consensus on how student organizations can function without violating hall neutrality. The administration has also emphasized the role of students in disbanding political groups inside halls and has engaged the Provost Standing Committee to review potential deviations and ensure hall autonomy from party politics.
Future Discussions
Recently, a meeting was held on August 10 between the university administration and 23 active student organizations to discuss student politics in the residential halls. Hall provosts have expressed concern about the return of the old political culture and have requested a clear policy from the administration. The Ganotantrik Chhatra Sangsad demanded a ban on student politics in academic areas and residential halls during the meeting.
The university administration has not yet made a definitive decision on whether student politics will stay or be banned. The final decision, according to a student leader present at the discussion, should be based on the opinions of the general students. Associate Professor Md Faruk Shah, provost of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, discussed the need to uphold and implement the understanding reached between students and the administration on 17 July last year.
Once the university provides a policy, it will be implemented in a way that addresses both the understanding from last year and the current context. The opinions of general students will be taken into account in the discussions. Dhaka University has announced a ban on both "open" and "secret" student politics in its residential halls. The university administration will organize everything and publish the guidelines in writing after the discussions are over.
In summary, Dhaka University continues to enforce its ban on student politics in residential halls with a policy of dialogue and consensus rather than punitive action. However, the university faces difficulties due to ongoing student resistance, covert political activities, and the complex reality of student politics on campus. The university administration will sit with student organizations again to discuss the matter further.
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