Students rally against committees in DU halls

Staff Reporter :

Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan has reaffirmed that the ban on student politics in all residential halls will remain in force under the policy adopted on 17 July last year.

Speaking outside his residence at around 2:00am on Friday, during a tense standoff with protesters, the VC said hall administrations would act under existing rules and that he planned to meet the recently announced Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) committees.

His comments followed a day of mounting unrest triggered by JCD’s announcement of new convenor committees for DU’s residential halls, despite the ban.

The protests began at Rokeya Hall and quickly spread to other dormitories, culminating in a midnight gathering at the Raju Sculpture before students marched to the VC’s residence. Demonstrators rejected the VC’s remarks, demanding a complete end to all hall-based political activity.

Protesters presented a six-point list of demands, including a formal explanation from the VC over the committee announcements, dissolution of all public and secret committees of JCD, Shibir, Bagchhas, and left-wing groups within 24 hours, a roadmap for enforcing the ban on political activities in halls and academic areas, dissolution of all hall committees within 24 hours, public apologies from hall provosts for failing to prevent political activities and immediate DUCSU elections.

Female students from Ruqayyah Hall and Shamsunnahar Hall joined the demonstrations late at night, breaking locked gates to march through campus while chanting “Hall Politics No More” and “Hall Politics Will Not Continue.”

Earlier, Ruqayyah Hall students submitted a four-point memorandum to their provost, calling for the hall to be declared entirely free of political activity, with penalties including loss of residential seats for violators. They also demanded legal recognition of the 17 July memorandum and action against hall authorities accused of aiding political groups.

Similar memorandums have since been submitted by Sufia Kamal Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall students.

Protest leaders have warned against any attempt to revive hall politics. Mohsin Hall student Najmul Hasan said: “The promise of July was to keep halls free of politics. If anyone tries to bring it back, they will face the same resistance as the Chhatra League.”

Despite the VC’s stance, students say their demonstrations will continue until all demands are met.