BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday (April 01, 2024) said student politics on the university campuses is not the problem, the concern is over the control of a single student organision on the campuses.  “Buet authorities will take decision whether they will allow student politics on the campus or not. Because of that (Abrar Fahad killing) the Buet authorities had banned student politics on the campus, they will see whether such situation is still continuing or not and take decision accordingly,” he said. He said these while talking to reports after visiting injured BNP Natore district unit’s join convener Dewan Shahin at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Dewan Shahin recently got seriously injured in an attack allegedly by some Awami League men. Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member,  said the situation at Jahangirnagar University is worse where Bangladesh Chhatra League secretary Manik had celebrated ‘rape century’. “It was stigma for the nation. But  AL considers this shame as ornaments.” Read more: Student politics could be returning to Buet, VC indicates They are behaving recklessly with the support of the administration, he alleged. He said ruling Awami Legue (AL) is staying in power unleashing atrocities and by using muscle power against oppositions. In the last 15 years Natore BNP leaders have been facing inhuman torture by AL men. “Despite oppression the leaders and activists did not leave BNP. The scenario of torture on BNP men across the Bangladesh is same to Natore,” he said. Terming AL as an isolated political party, Gayeshwar said without terrorist activities they (AL) could not survive in politics. Read more: BCL no longer hiding its intention to rule BUET campus “In this situation we have to raise our voice and get ready to give reply to their brutality,”he said. Responding to a question from reporters, the BNP leader said the government is waiting to hear the death news of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “I guess sweetmeat will be distributed at Gano Bhaban once they hear her death news.” “We have nothing to expect from this government. But what they are doing with the BNP Chairperson will be considered as a planned murder,” he said. Read more: Following legal reversal of ban, general students and BCL respond with differing visions for Buet’s future

In view of the High Court's statement that “There is no obstacle to student politics in Bangladesh University of Engineering (Buet), Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satya Prasad Majumdar today (April 01, 2024) gave a clear indication that student politics might be returning to Buet campus. Speaking to the media at his office today, the Buet VC said, “We have to accept what the High Court says.  Court order must be obeyed. To implement this, we have to go through some process.” HC wants to know why ban on politics in Buet shouldn't be declared illegal; stays decision The Vice-Chancellor said that in order to maintain discipline on the campus, students, teachers and the administration have to reach a mutual decision, and for this to happen, discussion is necessary. “We will look into the matter based on discussion among teachers, students and the administration,” the Buet VC added. Read more: Following legal reversal of ban, general students and BCL respond with differing visions for Buet’s future

The High Court on Monday stayed the decision of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) authorities restricting politics on the campus.The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, also a Buet student and a leader of Chhatra League, whose hall allotment was cancelled recently amid students’ protest against the gathering of some BCL leaders on the campus defying ban. BCL no longer hiding its intention to rule BUET campusThe HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the decision of Buet authorities banning politics on the campus, taken in 2019, should not be declared illegal.Secretary to the Home Ministry, Buet Vice-Chancellor and its registrar were made respondents to the rule.Senior Advocate Shaha Manjurul Haque stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Samrendra Nath Biswas and assistant attorney general Abul Kalam Khan Daud represented the state.Advocate Manjurul said with this order there is no bar to continue student politics on the campus.On October 7, 2019, Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League (BCL) activists at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours.On October 11, same year, Buet authorities banned student politics on the campus. It also issued a notification in this regard. Don’t want BUET to become a breeding ground for negative political activities and militancy: QuaderOn July 19 2023, the Buet authorities again issued a notice prohibiting students and teachers from participation in politics on the campus. They issued the notice following media reports about the names of the members of BCL Central Committee where some students of Buet also got some posts in the committee.On Thursday night , some BCL leaders including the president Saddam Hossain entered the campus, sparking anger among general students.The staged demonstrations the following day protesting bid to revive political activities of BCL. They also held a press conference in front of Buet Shaheed Mianr on that day and continued their demonstration till Friday evening after taking position in front of the office of Directorate of Student Welfare on the campus.Later, the authorities concerned cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz who allegedly played a vital role in facilitating the entry of the BCL men. A probe body was formed in this connection and it was asked to submit its report within April 8.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday said the educational institutions will decide whether to allow or not student politics on the campus. “The outcome of banning student politics in educational institutions is not usually good.  This should also be considered,” she said. The minister was talking to reporters after attending a meeting on law and order situation during SSC and equivalent exams in the capital. Being involved in politics is a matter of an individual’s fundamental rights, said Dipu. Also read: Momen not accompanying PM in India: Dipu Moni questions media’s use of “dropped” “It is between a political party and an educational institute, what rule they made and what understanding they have regarding student politics. The education ministry does not decide nor intervene in these matters,” said the minister. “People have different opinions regarding allowing student politics in educational institutions but there is no alternative to political consciousness if we hope for a democratic society” Dipu added. Politics is a healthy and positive thing and this positivity has to be maintained during party politics in educational institutions, she said. On August 13, former students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) arranged a rally in its premises ahead of National Mourning Day under the banner of Bangladesh Chhatra league (BCL). Also read: SSC exams this year will start from 11am, duration 2 hours: Dipu Moni This raised a storm of debate as political activities in BUET campus has officially remained banned since the murder of student Abrar Fahad in 2019, by some then-leaders of BCl at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university.

Amid the alarming spike in Covid cases, over a thousand Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists staged a showdown in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office welcoming the new committees of its four units in Dhaka city. The JCD activists started gathering in front of the BNP office in small processions at 10am. They chanted slogans hailing the leaders made conveners and member secretaries of the new convening committees of JCD Dhaka south, north, east and west units. Read:JCD activists clash with police in capital, Mymensingh Later, the JCD leaders and activists brought out a procession towards Fakirerpool around 11:45am, forcing police to stop the vehicle movement on the road. After the procession, police did not allow the JCD activists to reassemble in front of the BNP office. Additional police personnel were deployed in front of the BNP office and its adjoining areas to maintain law and order centring the showdown by the leaders and activists of JCD, the student body of BNP. Many JCD men were seen joining the procession and the gathering without wearing masks. On July 14, JCD president Fazlur Rahman Khokon and general secretary Iqbal Hossain Shyamol announced the two-member committee of the organisation’s each unit of Dhaka city south, north, east and west. Read: DU: JCD activists, campus journo attacked by BCL Shah Alam (Pavel Sikder) was made convener and Niaz Mahmud (Niloy) member secretary of Dhaka south city unit while Jasim Sikder Rana, convener and Ruhul Amin Sohel member secretary of north unit Sheikh Khalid Hasan convener and Mohammad Al Amin member secretary of east unit and Mohsin Siddiqui Robi convener and Ashraful Islam Mamun member secretary of the west unit.

Noting that student politics is imperative because of its significance, current and former student leaders of the country on Monday called for its continuation for the sake of the country’s betterment.

Rajshahi, Oct 13 (UNB) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Awami League does not back the idea of banning students politics but legal action will be taken if anyone commits any misdeed in the name of politics.