Dhaka University students protest as Chhatra Dal pastes posters on campus

“Such improper political activities under the guise of depoliticisation triggers the trauma we experienced during fascist rule,” says DU Chhatra Dal President Shahosh

A group of students have staged protests after the Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, pasted posters on the Dhaka University campus commemorating the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' observed by the party.

Students from different residential halls gathered and brought out a procession near the vice-chancellor's residence around 10pm on Wednesday. They marched through different halls before taking up positions at the Raju Memorial Sculpture. Afterwards, they went back to the halls at 12am.

They chanted different slogans pledging to protest any form of student politics on the campus while referencing those killed during the July revolution.

Bijoy Ekattor Hall Provost SM Ali Reza tried to pacify the students as they brought out the procession.

"I can understand what you are trying to convey. Please submit a memorandum to the university administration. I'll accompany you as well," he told the students.

"On Jul 17, we collected signatures from provosts and house tutors in all halls to ban student politics linked to political parties," said Nayeem, a residential student in Haji Muhammed Mohsin Hall.

“But now we find that [many kinds of political] activities, like pasting posters, is underway. The student community will never accept this."

"We welcome any kind of discussion or criticism of political activity in a democratic Bangladesh. But the incident that occurred surrounding the use of posters of the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' on Nov 7, can't be called democratic criticism," said DU Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahosh.

"The late president Ziaur Rahman, who introduced Bangladeshi nationalism and multi-party democracy, was released from captivity through an uprising of the soldiers and the general people and came to state power. Hence, using the posters to commemorate the day has been a routine activity for us for a long time."

Rahman became the chief of army after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family were assassinated on Aug 15, 1975. Then Khaled Mosharraf, one of the sector commanders in the Liberation War led a coup in the army and Ziaur Rahman was placed under house arrest.

On Nov 7, Col Taher of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led a counter coup, releasing Ziaur Rahman. He came to power becoming the first ever martial ruler of Bangladesh.

The BNP observes the day as 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' while JSD observes it as 'Soldiers-People Revolution Day.' The Awami League, which ruled the country for the last 15 years, however, observed the day as 'Freedom Fighter Soldiers Killing Day.'

Chhatra Dal leader Shahosh said the BNP affiliate was prevented from commemorating the day during the Awami League rule as well.

"We have faced obstacles like the tearing of posters or protests on the day during the last fascist government's regime. There could be online or offline discussion about the posters. Then we could rethink how to make such routine activity more attractive and acceptable," he said.

But the issue was instead used to threaten their activists, harass their women activists online, and show off their muscle, he said.

"This can't be the language of democratic political expression. Such improper political activities under the guise of depoliticisation triggers the trauma we experienced during fascist rule,” he said.

BAN IN ONE HALL

Authorities at Shaheen Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall banned the pasting of any poster on its walls or nearby walls on Wednesday night.

“To maintain the overall beauty of the hall, no banner, festoon, or poster can be used or graffiti can be done inside the hall or on the walls of its premises without the permission of the hall authorities. Anyone defying the order will face stringent measure according to the university rules. We ask for everyone’s cooperation," a notice said.