Standoff, tension ahead of new student organisation’s launch

Students split over leadership demands and committee formation

Tension has flared outside Dhaka University’s Madhu’s Canteen as two groups of students took opposing positions ahead of the launch of a new organisation.

One faction has been chanting slogans in support of Anti-discrimination Student Movement Convenor Rifat Rashid, demanding his inclusion in the new group’s committee.

The other faction has been demanding the formation of committees for private universities and Uttara before any official announcement.

The standoff led to a brief scuffle between the two groups at one point.

The new organisation was scheduled to be announced at a press conference at Madhu’s Canteen at 3pm on Wednesday.

However, as of 5:30pm, the announcement had not been made.

Manjurul Islam, a student, told bdnews24.com: “There are still no committees in Uttara East and West under the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

“Now they want to announce a new organisation. This is discrimination.”

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Everyone knows Rifat Rashid’s role in the Anti-discrimination Movement. Any committee that excludes him cannot have our mandate.”

A coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Movement told bdnews24.com, “In recent days, some people have engaged in illegal activities in Uttara under the banner of the Movement.

“Now, they are here chanting slogans.”

On Feb 19, Rifat had said anyone from within the organisation seeking to join a political party must step down from their position in the Movement.