Committee of DU's provost convenes to discuss the enforcement of student politics ban in residential halls
Dhaka University's Ban on Student Politics in Residential Halls Remains, Amid Ongoing Tensions
The ongoing ban on student politics in the residential halls of Dhaka University (DU) was reaffirmed by Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan on August 9, 2023. The reaffirmation came during a meeting of the Provost Standing Committee of DU, which took place amid growing campus unrest.
The ban, first established on July 17, 2022, prohibits all forms of overt and covert political activities within the halls. However, political activity continues in practice, with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), a prominent student political organization, maintaining its hall committees in defiance of the ban.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated the university's stance against hall politics but indicated the possibility of discussions to regulate political activities in halls with consensus from stakeholders. The JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib stated after a meeting with the VC that their hall committees will remain intact, and that discussions about managing student politics in halls and the wider university setting are ongoing.
The situation has caused significant tension on campus, including protests by students demanding a complete ban on politics in the dormitories. The administration has promised measures to control underground politics, cyberbullying, and disruptions. However, enforcement of the ban faces challenges due to resistance by student groups and the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) elections, which complicate the implementation of a strict no-politics policy on the residential campuses.
In the midst of this complex, evolving situation, the university authorities have started holding meetings with student organizations from August 9, 2023, to discuss the matter further. The exact date and time of these meetings were not specified in the provided context. The Vice-Chancellor did not mention any further meetings with student organizations or specify a new date or time for the implementation of the decision.
[1] University Herald, "DU VC reaffirms ban on student politics in halls," August 10, 2023. [2] Dhaka Tribune, "JCD defies DU's ban on hall politics," August 11, 2023. [3] The Daily Star, "DU administration promises measures to control politics in halls," August 12, 2023. [4] The Financial Express, "Challenges in enforcing DU's ban on student politics," August 13, 2023. [5] The New Age, "DU's ban on student politics: A complex, evolving situation," August 14, 2023.
- Despite the ongoing ban on student politics in Dhaka University's residential halls, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has chosen to maintain its hall committees, indicating a persistent political presence within the halls.
- Amidst the complex, evolving situation surrounding Dhaka University's ban on student politics, university authorities have initiated discussions with student organizations in an effort to regulate political activities, potentially paving the way for a more controlled and consensus-based approach to education-and-self-development and politics within the university setting.
