Sarba Mitra Chakma backtracks, refuses to quit DUCSU post

The executive member reverses his resignation decision after "student support"

Sarba Mitra Chakma, a Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) executive member who has faced criticism over a series of controversies, has withdrawn his decision to resign.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Saturday afternoon, Sarba Mitra said students had urged him not to step down, describing his resignation as “anti-student” and a betrayal of those who elected him.“They told me not to listen to the opposition and to continue my work. So I have decided to withdraw my resignation,” he said.

Sarba Mitra also claimed the DUCSU constitution does not support resignation, though he admitted he could not specify which provision states this.

“I don’t know exactly which clauses talk about resignation,” he said when asked.

However, Clause 12(b) of the DUCSU constitution states that if any executive member or office-bearer resigns, dies or is removed, the vacant post must be filled through the prescribed election process for the remainder of the term.

On Thursday afternoon, Sarba Mitra had told bdnews24.com that he would resign after completing some pending work within two days.

Elected last year as an executive member from a Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel, Sarba Mitra announced his resignation decision in a Facebook post on Monday amid growing criticism.

In the post, he said he was stepping down voluntarily and not under pressure, adding that holding on to a position made no sense when work had become “difficult and impossible”.

He also defended his actions during a period of rising theft and snatching incidents on campus, saying his approach may have been wrong but was driven by concerns for student safety.

The controversy intensified after a video surfaced showing Sarba Mitra holding a cricket stump and forcing several children to do sit-ups while holding their ears at the university’s central playground.

The footage went viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation.

He had also been accused of threatening an elderly man with a stick during a late-night eviction drive against outsiders and roadside vendors on campus, and of involvement in disputes over alleged extortion.

Following the video involving children, the university administration issued a show-cause notice to Sarba Mitra, confirmed Proctor’s Assistant Prof Saifuddin Ahmed.

“We have asked him to explain. We will decide after receiving his response,” Saifuddin told bdnews24.com.

Although Sarba Mitra initially remained out of contact, the notice was later sent to him online.

He confirmed receiving it but said he would not respond immediately.

“Before that, I want answers about phone thefts, bicycle thefts and harassment of female students on campus,” he said, adding that he may no longer be in office by the time he seeks those answers.