Dhaka University bars ‘outsiders’ from campus amid simmering protests

The Dhaka University Provost Committee has forbidden ‘outsiders’ from entering, wandering or engaging in any activity on the university campus without the permission of the administration or the proctor.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 July 2018, 10:31 AM
Updated : 9 July 2018, 10:31 AM

The authorities will seek help from law-enforcement agencies on the matter, if necessary, the committee said in a statement on Monday.

The panel made the decision at a meeting on Jul 5 “in the light of the situation on the Dhaka University campus and residential halls in recent times and unexpected incidents during the quota reform protests”.

The university campus had been a central site of protests by students and job seekers who called for the government to reduce the quota system for civil service jobs to 10 percent from 56 percent.

The home of the university’s vice-chancellor was vandalised during the protests. There was also an overnight disturbance at a residential hall for women over allegations that a student had been tortured.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Apr 11 proposed to abolish the quota system altogether. The announcement prompted the protesters to postpone their demonstrations for some time.

The protests resumed after delays in the gazette notification formalising the abolition of the quotas. The protesters were attacked several times by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists during the latest spell of protests.

A seven-member panel led by Prof Dr Muhammad Samad has been formed to investigate the events surrounding the protests, according to the statement.

The provost committee said it had examined the situation at the residential halls and hostels and came to the decision to remove anyone not enrolled as students from the area. A notice has been posted ordering all ‘non-students’ to leave the halls.

No guests or guardians will be able to enter the halls without permission from the hall authority. “The support of law enforcers and security forces can be sought in this regard,” the committee said.

"The university's proctor and the administration must take appropriate action, with the help of law-enforcement agencies, to ensure that no banned organisation can exist on the university campus, residential halls and hostels, or are able to promote their militant and extremist ideologies or conduct such activities."

The administration will also hold regular meetings with students and student organisations operating at the halls to discuss the overall situation, the committee said.