General students of Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University have strongly expected positive political changes and a firm assurance for the welfare of students after the long-due elections to their central students’ unions in September.
Many students of these universities firmly said that they wanted an end to the exploitative traditions of campus politics, urging the coming student representatives to work for safeguarding student rights.
They stressed that the elected student representatives must become the voice of the general students to ensure a student-friendly environment on the campuses following the July 2024 political changeover achieved through the student-led mass uprising that overthrew the Awami League regime on August 5 that year.
According to students, the forthcoming student leadership must serve the interests of the common students. They must prevent the return of torture, seat-trading and hall-centric dominance of the ruling party-backed student body, which were pursued by the AL student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League, now a banned organisation, especially during the 15-year-long previous AL regime.
Regarding the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections, scheduled for September 9, the university’s Sanskrit department student Nusrat Rusha on Friday said, ‘There exists a tendency among many candidates to do partisan politics without serving the interest of general students. As a result, the university and the students don’t benefit from such politics.’
‘We expect that the elected student representatives will work for the welfare of the students. Female students of the university do not feel safe on the campus. They face harassment on the campus and we want the representatives to work for ensuring female students’ safety here,’ said Rusha.
According to Hasibur Rahman, a master’s student at the DU marketing department, the DUCSU elections are a democratic process that shape student leadership and prepare future leaders of the nation, reported DU Correspondent.
‘We want a healthy, peaceful, and democratic atmosphere on the campus,’ Hasibur said, adding that despite political differences, there should be mutual respect and harmony among students.
‘Violence, threats, and domination must not have any place here. We want a culture of free thought, space for logical debate and dissent, and elected representatives who would truly represent the voice of students,’ he added.
DU anthropology department student Abdullah Hel Bubun said that students had long been subjected to the culture of ‘Ganaroom, Guestroom’ torture on the campus due to the notorious power practice of the ruling political party’s student body.
Students expected that the DUCSU leaders would genuinely represent the aspirations of the students so that such repressive culture couldnot make a comeback, he said
As student representatives, they must be vocal against increasing academic costs in the university, Bubun added.Â
At least 10 panels and independent candidates are going to contest in the DUCSU elections, which were last held on March 11, 2019, after a 28-year gap.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal panel vice-president candidate Abidul Islam Khan said that the panel leaders were committed to abolish the culture of Ganaroom and Guestroom persecution on the campus.
‘It’s going to be our main commitment to the students. We are also committed to work for the welfare of students,’ he added.
Satantra Shikkharthi Oikya panel vice-president candidate Umama Fatema said that general students had had bad experiences in the form of repressive political practices on the campus.
‘If the DUCSU leaders want to work in the interest of the common students, they must come out of the partisan politics,’ commented Umama.   Â
About Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union elections, scheduled for September 11, students of the university recalled how previous political leaders exercised control over the allocation of residential hall seats, adding that students were subjected to torture in so-called guestrooms and forced to participate in political programmes of the pro government student organisation, reported JU Correspondent.
Students also highlighted the absence of student representation in the university senate, which often compelled them to move from office to office to get their demands heard.
The last JUCSU elections were held in 1992. At least seven panels are expected to vie in the JUCSU polls this time.
Students said that they expected the JUCSU to emerge as a united voice and an effective bargaining platform in their interest.
JU mathematics department student Sohel Rana said, ‘We want a JUCSU where students’ opinions would be reflected and their rights are realised.’
Abdur Rashid Jitu, convener of the Gana Abbhutthan Rakkha Andolan, welcomed the long-awaited polls and termed it as a significant democratic milestone.
‘The JUCSU elections, being held after 33 long years, are not merely a procedural exercise, but an opportunity to foster democratic practices and responsible leadership,’ he said
‘We want a transparent, effective, and participatory student parliament where students’ views and interests are prioritised. The JUCSU must become a powerful voice for rights of the students,’ he added.
However, left-leaning student organisations cautioned that several challenges remain.
Adri Angkur, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union’s JU unit, said, ‘Even a year after the uprising, trials against teachers accused of instigating attacks on protesters have not been concluded, while some have already been reinstated into their jobs,’ he said.
He also raised concerns about aggressive propaganda on social media against dissenting voices in the aftermath of the uprising.
About the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union polls, scheduled for September 15, RU general students said that elections must ensure a democratic and accountable leadership that would represent common students’ interests and prevent the return of torture, seat-trading and hall-centric dominance of party-backed organisations, reported ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· Staff Correspondent in Rajshahi.
Tariqul Islam, an RU law student, said that student fronts of political parties for too long had exercised dominance over campuses through intimidation and violence.
‘They never worked for the sake of general students, they only worked for their political patrons. The RUCSU must bring an end to this culture and reflect students’ real interests,’ he said.
He warned that some major student organisations were showing negative attitudes toward the RUCSU polls.
‘They want the RUCSU to remain dysfunctional. I fear that they may even try to foil the elections to retain their control,’ he added.
Shahadat Hossain, a student of Islamic studies at RU, said, ‘Students want the RUCSU to prioritise basic needs – accommodation, academic services, healthcare, transport – instead of being a platform for political feuds,’ he said.
Mass communication and journalism student Tahmida Nasreen Kanak said that since August 5, students had enjoyed some relief from torture and seat-trading in residential halls, pursued by Chhatra League on the campus.
‘There is still a fear that these practices may return in other forms. The RUCSU can introduce accountability by ensuring competition and representation of all students through elections,’ she said.
Statistics student Rana Ray said, ‘For 15 years, we could not raise our voices freely. In the post-uprising context, students now want a campus based on justice and equality,’ he said.
Leaders of different student organisations have also pledged to follow democratic practices ahead of the polls.
Fuad Ratul, RU unit convener of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said that students saw the atrocities committed by Chhatra League over the past 16 years, and earlier the terror of Chhatra Shibir.
‘We want to assure students that our role will be to build a campus of justice, equality, and democratic rights,’ he said.
Mujahid Faisal, general secretary of the RU unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, rejected the allegations against his organisation, saying that they were part of a propaganda campaign by the Awami League in its political interest.
Sultan Ahmed Rahi, president of the RU unit of Chhatra Dal, said that their student organistion was committed to a torture-free and harassment-free campus.
‘What Chhatra League did in the past, will never return on the campus. Chhatra Dal will work for the welfare of all students,’ he said.
