Politics thrived at Buet despite being illegal

Despite being illegal at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) according to its 1962 ordinance, politics still strived at the university.

The ordinance says no students and teachers' politics is allowed on the campus. But halls and central students' union could conduct their activities.

The university administration never took any initiatives to execute the ordinance. 

The first time Buet imposed a ban on student politics on the campus was in 2002, following the murder of Sabequn Nahar Sony, a second-year student of chemical engineering. 

Sony was killed during a factional clash of Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP. 

The ban stayed in place till 2009.

After that, politics made a comeback. But this time around, it had shelter from the university administration.

However, following another gruesome murder of a student at the hands of Buet political leaders and activists, the administration on Friday banned both students and teachers' politics on campus. 

"Students' politics is banned on the campus from today," said Buet Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Saiful Islam.

The university administration came up with the announcement following a 10-point demand from students, which also includes capital punishment for the murderers of slain student Abrar Fahad.

The movement started from Monday after Abrar, a second year student, was tortured and beaten to death by Buet unit Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders.

Students' Welfare Director Professor Mizanur Rahman, in the presence of all teachers and students of Buet, vowed yesterday that he would not participate in any political activities, and urged the same of all other teachers.

"We could not say anything considering the current scenario of Bangladesh. That is why students' politics has continued on the campus despite the 1962 ordinance," he said.

Politics has been an active part of Buet since its inception in 1962.

But banning it was out of discussion before the murder of Sabequn Nahar Sony.

Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, told The Business Standard that Buet campus was one of the hubs of students' politics. 

There were activities of Chhatra League, Chhatra Union and some other student organisations since its establishment. Students of Buet participated in many movements, including the uprising of 1969," he said.

"It is ridiculous that the Buet administration banned students' politics from the university," he added. "No left leaning students' organisations have been involved in criminal activities, except for the Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal." 

He recommended banning just those two organisations, not others.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said, "Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal are the perpetrators of politics of looting when their parent parties, Awami League and BNP, are in power. That is why such killings take place. Impose ban on their politics. It will not be wise to ban all students' organisations."

Speaking to The Business Standard, educationist Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain said that students' politics is necessary to build future leadership. But violent politics must be stopped on all campuses. 

"Students' politics should not be affiliated with any political organisations. But unfortunately Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal are doing everything with the consultation of their parent organisations. 

"Unfortunately, that is why they have turned into organisations perpetrating terror," Prof Anwar said.

Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AK Azad Chowdhury said the students will work for justice, equity and democracy. But when their activities are for money or to serve others, it deserves to be banned.

"The Buet administration took a good decision because there is no students' politics now, as nobody works for the students," he opined.