The High Court on Monday cleared the way for student politics on the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) campus.
The High Court stayed a notification issued by the BUET authorities on October 11, 2019 banning student politics on the campus.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by a BUET student who has an affiliation with Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League.
The High Court also issued a rule upon the bodies concerned of the government to explain as to why the notification issued by the BUET authorities banning student politics on the campus should not be directed illegal.
Imtiaz Hossen Rahim, a second year student of the Civil Engineering Department of the BUET, filed the writ petition on Monday.
Senior lawyers Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque and Barrister Muhammad Harunur Rashid appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the petitioner.
Later Shah Monjurul Hoque said, "Now there is no bar to student politics on the BUET campus.
BUET student Abrar Fahad was beaten to death on the night of October 6, 2019 at Sher-e-Bangla Hall by Chhatra League activists. After this incident, on October 11 that year, the BUET administration issued a notification banning student politics on the campus.
BUET students on March 29 started boycotting classes and exams and demonstrated against a gathering of Chhatra League activists on the midnight of March 27 on the campus where political activities are not allowed.
They demanded expulsion of several students, including Imtiaz Hossen Rahim, a central committee member of the pro-Awami League student body, for what they said were their open political activities on the campus.
The university on March 30 cancelled the residency of Imtiaz at a dormitory.
It also formed a six-member committee to investigate the allegations and asked it to submit a report by April 8.
Meanwhile, Chhatra League held a rally on Sunday, pressing for restoration of student politics on the BUET campus.
It also denounced the cancellation of Imtiaz's residency at the BUET dormitory.
In the meantime, Imtiaz filed the writ petition with the High Court on Monday challenging the legality of the notification of the BUET authorities.
The writ petition said the notification issued banning student politics is without lawful authority, as it violated petitioner's right of association, freedom of thought, conscience and speech as guaranteed under Articles 38 and 39 of the Constitution.
"The court's order is obligatory. We have to accept what the court says," said BUET Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Satya Prasad Majumder in response to questions from reporters at his office in the afternoon.
When asked about the procedure after the High Court verdict, the VC said, "We will discuss it with our lawyer. We have to follow the rules of the court."
"And I cannot say anything clearly now without seeing what the court has ruled. We will look into it first and then talk to our legal adviser. We will proceed with his advice." he added.
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