Students' alliance formed to contain terrorism on campus

As many as 12 student bodies have formed a new alliance named Santrasbirodhi Chhatraoikya (United Students Against Terrorism) to fight terrorists and communal and autocratic forces in the educational institutions.
As many as 12 student bodies have formed a new alliance named Santrasbirodhi Chhatraoikya (United Students Against Terrorism) to fight terrorists and communal and autocratic forces in the educational institutions.

As many as 12 student bodies have formed a new alliance named Santrasbirodhi Chhatraoikya (United Students Against Terrorism) to fight terrorists and communal and autocratic forces in the educational institutions.

Representatives of the 12 organisations announced the formation of the platform at a press conference at Madhur Canteen on Dhaka University campus on Friday.

The alliance comprises of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation (Ganasanghati Andolon), Bangladesh Chhatra Federation (Badruddin Umar), Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (BSD), Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (Marxist), Biplobi Chhatra Moitree, Biplobi Chhatra-Juba Andolon, Brihattar Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Nagorik Chhatra Oikya, Satantra Jote and Chhatra Ganamancha.

Floating the alliance, Dhaka University Central Student Union’s (DUCSU) social affairs secretary Akhter Hossain put forward a four-point demand.

These are: legal action and permanent expulsion of the students who attacked DUCSU vice-president Nurul Haq and other students, removal of DU proctor Golam Rabbani for failing to protect students from the attack, withdrawal of cases against VP Nurul and other students.

Their other demands include ensuring a democratic environment and safety of the students on the campuses and ending the culture of persecuting students in the guest room in residential halls.

DUCSU vice president Nurul Haq and around 20 others came under an attack allegedly by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Muktijuddha Mancha on Sunday.

BCL is the student wing of ruling Awami League.

Akhter, who is also a leader of VP Nurul’s student organisation Bangladesh General Students' Rights Protection Council (BGSRPC), in his written speech alleged that DU proctor abetted ruling party student wing BCL and Muktijuddha Mancha to launch the attack.

“A lot of students are tortured physically and mentally every day by BCL cadres. They have turned the residential halls into concentration camps by intimidating general students and unleashing terror. The authorities always take stance against general students and aid and abet the ruling party students,” Akhter said.

Saying that the students have no right to express dissent on campuses, Akhter said, “BUET student Abrar Fahad was mercilessly beaten to death by Chhatra League cadres for expressing his views.”

The newly formed student alliance will bring a procession from Dhaka University’s (DU) Raju Sculpture at 3:00pm Saturday.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (BSD) central president and coordinator the alliance Al Kaderi, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (Marxist) central president Masud Rana, Biplobi Chhatra Moitree central president Iqbal Kabir also spoke at the press conference.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union central president Mehedi Hasan, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation (Ganasanghati Andolon) central president Golam Mostafa, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation (Badruddin Umar) central general secretary Foisal Mahmud, BGSRPC joint coordinator Bin Yamin Molla, Brihattar Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad general secretary Sunayan Chakma, Biplobi Chhatra-Juba Andolon central president Atif Anik and VP of DU’s Shamsunnahar Hall Sheikh Tasnim Afroze, among others, were present.