DU students erupt in midnight protests

Dhaka University (DU) erupted in late-night protests on Friday as students demanded a complete ban on all forms of student politics in academic and residential halls. The demonstrations intensified after midnight, prompting the university authorities to reaffirm their decision to prohibit political activities in the halls.

Around 12:00 AM, students from various halls joined the protest, marching to the Raju Memorial Sculpture. At Rokeya Hall and Shamsun Nahar Hall, students broke open the main gate to join the demonstration, while female students from several other halls also took part.

The unrest began earlier in the day after the announcement of DU Chhatra Dal hall committees had sparked heated debate in social media. Despite the official ban on student politics in the university's 18 residential halls since July 17 last year, Chhatra Dal had announced new hall committees. In response, female students from five women's halls began protesting in the afternoon, demanding the removal of those who had accepted positions in the committees and pressing the administration to enforce the ban.

By midnight, with no formal announcement from the hall authorities, students from Rokeya Hall and Shamsun Nahar Hall broke their gates and poured onto the streets. They were later joined by many students from Ziaur Rahman Hall, Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Bijoy Ekattor Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall and Masterda Surja Sen Hall. The students marched together to the Raju Memorial Sculpture, where they staged a brief sit-in. Later, they headed to Vice-Chancellor's residence at 1:20 AM.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan and the university proctor met the students around 2:00 AM, engaging in over an hour of discussion. Vice-Chancellor said the decision taken by the hall provosts on July 17, 2024, to prohibit student politics in the halls would remain in effect and that political activities would be "controlled."

Students rejected the idea of a controlled permission, chanting "No, no," and insisting on a total ban. They also demanded action against members of Shibir's alleged secret committees and the newly announced Chhatra Dal committees in the halls.

At that time, Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed made a clear declaration that both open and secret political activities would be banned in the university's residential halls. Students welcomed the announcement with cheers before dispersing around 3:00 AM and returning to their respective halls.

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