Student leaders stage walkout over ‘fascist collaborator’ comment at DU policy dialogue
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Student leaders from several universities staged a walkout from a “Policy Dialogue on the July Charter,” organized at the University of Dhaka on Wednesday (October 29), after terming one of the speakers a “collaborator of fascists.”
The event, held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, was organized by a platform “Applied Democracy Lab”. The director of the platform, Professor Ainul Islam Khan of the Department of Political Science, was the accused person in the student leaders’ protest.
The dialogue titled “Youth Policy Dialogue on the July Charter” brought together several academics and guests, including Professor Badiul Alam Majumdar, member of the National Reform Commission; Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Saima Haque Bidisha; Dr. Sumit Bisarya, Head of International IDEA (Netherlands); and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dr. Taibur Rahman.
Invited student representatives included Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Shadik Kayem and General Secretary (GS) S. M. Forhad; Jahangirnagar University Students’ Union (JUCSU) VP Abdur Rashid Jitu and GS Majharul Islam; Rajshahi University Students’ Union (RUCSU) GS Salauddin Ammar and Assistant GS S. M. Salman Sabbir; and Chittagong University Students’ Union (CUCSU) GS Said Bin Habib.
During the discussion, DUCSU GS S. M. Forhad stood up and announced that it was unacceptable that “anti-July” teachers or students were present at the event. He said, “Professor Ainul Islam, who is attending this program, was a collaborator of the fascist Awami League and supported their activities. We have documentation proving this. Therefore, we, the student leaders of DUCSU, RUCSU, JUCSU, and CUCSU, are walking out in protest.”
He added, “This program is about the July Charter. It is shameful that someone linked to the Awami League is part of it.”
Following his remarks, the student leaders collectively left the venue in protest.