After long nine years, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), entered Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus on Wednesday.
As the DU unit JCD leaders and activists, accompanied by central leaders, proceeded towards Madhur Canteen around 10:30am, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) DU unit welcomed them.
Later, JCD central president Rajib Ahsan and general secretary Akramul Hasan joined them at the canteen.
JCD men passed a vivacious time with leaders of BCL and the left leaning student bodies there when BCL activists in a big crowd chanted slogans in favour of their organisation.
Later, JCD held a press conference there over Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election slated for March 11, where they reiterated their seven-point demand involving holding a credible election.
Deferring the DUCSU election by three months, setting up polling booths at the academic building instead of the residential halls and announcing a fresh schedule for the election were among the demands they placed.
JCD leaders told the reporters that their existence on the campus would get dynamism onwards with the Wednesday's presence at the Madhur Canteen.
Earlier, breaking nine years' barrier, JCD leaders entered the DU campus on February 7 and held a meeting there with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman.
They handed over a memorandum to the VC containing several demands including ensuring political co-existence and fair environment on the campus for holding peaceful and credible DUCSU election.
In January, 2010, the JCD entered Madhur Canteen, the hangout for DU political figures, and after being driven away by the BCL, has remained outside since.
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