Some students are against the ban of student politics in higher education institutions-a demand that came to surface after the fall of the Awami League (AL) regime-but they support an embargo on student politics affiliated with parties which contest for forming the government.
To realise the political rights of the students, higher education institutions should have student politics based on an independent student parliament, some students have opined.
Some students have been protesting at Dhaka University (DU), demanding the ban on party-affiliated student politics on the campus as well as demanding the immediate election of the Dhaka University Central Student Council (DUCSU).
Some students think deciding about the political practices of on the DU campus would be the biggest challenge for newly-appointed DU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan.
A number of students think that Chhatra Shibir will be the most benefited, if student politics is banned in DU, as a portion of the group is the supporters of a radical interpretation of Islam and are involved in politics behind the scene. With the non-Islamic student political wings to keep tabs on, a faction of Chhatra Shibir may resort to vigilante justice, the students believe.
Student politics in DU in the past has led to problems like student leaders taking control of the halls and allowing even their family members to reside in the dorms for an indefinite period, keeping the students who needed residence in a dire condition and denying them a seat in the halls they rightfully deserve, the students said.
"Hall administration and university administration have no role here (allocating seats in the halls). Chhatra League during the Awami League regime and Chhatra Dal during the BNP regime controlled the halls of the university," the students also said.
During the previous AL regime, it was unofficially compulsory for the first year DU students, who required seats at the dorms, to attend processions and meetings of its student wing.
On July 16, during the quota reform movement, students protested in different halls of DU, and took a written pledge from the authorities that said, "Student politics is banned."
After the fall of the AL government in the mass uprising, student politics has already been banned in several public universities, medical colleges and government colleges of the country.
Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin said there is no alternative to student politics to protect the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
Ragib Naeem, Central President of Students' Union, suggested that discussions can be initiated against occupation and terrorism in the name of student politics.
Distinguished Professor of politics and government at Illinois State University, Ali Riaz, said it is part of a person's human rights to get involved in politics after turning 18.
"I am not in favour of banning it. But it can be structurally reformed," he said.
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