In the aftermath of the mass uprising in July-August last year, discussions surrounding campus politics have intensified.
Initially, there was a strong demand to ban student politics entirely, citing the history of violence and misconduct by the now-proscribed student wing of the former ruling party.
However, with the resurgence of the student faction affiliated with the opposition and the reappearance of a previously outlawed ideological group, the discourse has shifted towards eliminating patronage-driven student politics rather than enforcing an outright prohibition.
Amidst this shifting landscape, a new student organisation, born out of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement that played a pivotal role in the uprising, has announced its formation.
Political observers believe this development will fundamentally alter the dynamics of student politics.
With three prominent factions now vying for influence— the opposition-backed student wing, the revived ideological group, and the new organisation—the potential for clashes looms large.
Tensions have already surfaced, as evidenced by Tuesday’s violent confrontation at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) between the opposition student faction and the newly formed group.
In the wake of the incident, both sides issued statements and announced counter-protests.
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration on 5 August, students reclaimed control over campuses, free from the dominance of the former ruling party’s student wing.
The oppressive culture of enforced participation in political activities, along with the coercive practices of "guest room" and "gono room" (mass accommodation) cultures, was dismantled.
Residential halls saw the reinstatement of merit-based seat allocations.
Students who played a role in the July uprising found themselves actively involved in various university affairs, particularly through "coordinators" offering insights on key issues—a practice that has garnered both support and criticism.
The prospect of student union elections prompted student groups to adopt student-centric agendas, with increased engagement in positive activities on social media platforms.
A looming conflict on campus
Analysts note that, in the post-uprising period, tensions have been brewing between the opposition-aligned student wing and the ideological group.
Senior figures within the opposition faction have openly criticised the ideological group’s clandestine activities, leading to heated exchanges in student-led social media forums.
At both Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, administrative meetings on student union elections have revealed stark disagreements between the two factions.
Leftist student organisations have also raised concerns over the ideological group’s re-entry into student politics.
Now, with the emergence of a new student organisation, these divisions have deepened.
On Monday, the former coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement held a press conference to formally announce the establishment of their new organisation.
In response, opposition student leaders swiftly reacted, accusing them of hypocrisy, arguing that those who once called for a ban on student politics are now forming a student organisation themselves.
This led to a social media war of words, with one opposition leader making an inflammatory post, which was promptly screenshot and circulated, with many interpreting it as the beginning of renewed campus confrontations.
Tuesday’s violence at KUET saw external elements wielding sharp weapons during attacks on students.
The opposition faction accused the assailants of being affiliated with the banned student group and the ideological faction, while their opponents countered that the opposition group itself had orchestrated the violence.
The dispute spilled over onto social media.
The opposition’s general secretary, Nasir Uddin Nasir, wrote, “A democratic environment in campus politics is essential to avoid conflicts. Any attempt to depoliticise campuses under the guise of neutrality will only serve to embolden banned underground organisations.”
Meanwhile, the ideological group’s former Dhaka University unit president, Abu Sadiq, countered, “The opposition faction has spilled the blood of our brothers and sisters in KUET. We denounce this fascism and call upon students to rise again against such tyranny.”
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s official page responded with a post stating, “Students must resist the opposition’s violence.”
Protests have since been announced by both the new organisation and the opposition faction, each blaming the other for the KUET incident.
The movement’s coordinator, Hasnat Abdullah, posted, “Anyone attempting to resurrect the fascist politics of the past will meet the same fate as their predecessors.”
The future of the new student organisation
Abdul Kader, a former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, stated in an interview with this newspaper: “Our organisation will have no parent political entity. Leadership will be determined through democratic processes, and only regular students will hold key positions. When student politics is subservient to a mother party, student interests are neglected. We aim to uphold the spirit of the July uprising and work solely for students.”
However, his statement has raised questions. Some speculate that the newly formed student organisation could function as the student wing of the yet-to-be-officially launched Jatiya Nagorik Committee.
A Facebook post by the committee’s convener, Nasiruddin Patwary, directing interested individuals to contact Abu Bakr Majumdar regarding the new student body, has fuelled further speculation. Similar promotional campaigns have been observed from both platforms.
Habibur Rahman, a former Dhaka University student and a keen observer of student politics, remarked: “If we analyse the leadership of the July uprising, it is evident that most were affiliated with political parties. While the initial enthusiasm for banning student politics has waned, new organisations have since emerged. The leaders of various dissident student factions—including the Democratic Student Power, the Student Rights Council, and the anti-discrimination student movement—have coalesced to form the National Citizens’ Committee, which is expected to transition into a formal political party. The new student organisation appears poised to serve as its student wing, and this is widely understood across campuses.”
As Bangladesh’s universities brace for a shifting political landscape, the reconfiguration of student organisations will determine the future of campus activism.
Whether these groups will prioritise student welfare or be drawn into a cycle of conflict remains an open question.
