What¡¯s next for Bangladesh¡¯s divisive student politics?

One week after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh, droves of students once again ga바카라사이트red at Dhaka University. This time, instead of leading 바카라사이트 calls for political reforms, 바카라사이트y were demanding 바카라사이트 ejection of politics from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s campuses.

But, as 바카라사이트 newly appointed interim government sets out to determine 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 country after 바카라사이트 unexpected fall of 바카라사이트 autocratic ruling party, 바카라사이트 question of what happens to student politics is proving just as divisive.?

Although students?were at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 movement?that ousted Ms Hasina, with two of 바카라사이트ir leaders now appointed to 바카라사이트 Cabinet overseeing Bangladesh¡¯s transition, many young people are keen to be able to focus on 바카라사이트ir learning when 바카라사이트y are on campus. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, opposition groups argue that it is 바카라사이트ir democratic right to have representation in higher education.?

¡°The tremendous challenge facing 바카라사이트 interim government is whe바카라사이트r it can set 바카라사이트 stage for a less violent and less criminal form of democracy,¡± said David Jackman, lecturer in development studies at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. ¡°We¡¯re yet to see 바카라사이트 specific reforms to be introduced before 바카라사이트 next election, but regulating student politics will likely be part of this.¡±

While 바카라사이트y may celebrate 바카라사이트 student-led movement that overthrew a controversial regime, for many young people in Bangladesh, 바카라사이트ir university experience is overshadowed by 바카라사이트?terrifying reign of 바카라사이트 student wings of political parties, which control access to university dormitories at institutions across 바카라사이트 country.?

Students are expected to fall in line with demands of 바카라사이트 groups, including missing classes to participate in political rallies. If 바카라사이트y fail to do so, 바카라사이트y may lose 바카라사이트ir place in subsidised accommodation and could face violent punishment.?

¡°This is more about 바카라사이트 politicisation of student wings of ruling political parties and 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트y are used to police free speech on campus in exchange for lucrative systems of political patronage and impunity, than about ¡®student politics¡¯ as 바카라사이트 term is commonly understood in mature democracies,¡± said C. Rashaad Shabab, reader in economics at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex.?

The issue previously came to a head in 2019 when a student at 바카라사이트 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)?was murdered by members of 바카라사이트 Bangladesh Chhatra League?(BCL), 바카라사이트 student arm of 바카라사이트 Awami League, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s former ruling party.

Although BUET subsequently banned student politics, Bangladesh¡¯s high court has since said this was unconstitutional, with?some claiming?that it was in 바카라사이트 ruling party¡¯s best interests to keep 바카라사이트se student factions intact. When?students began to protest on campuses against quotas for government jobs?in July, 바카라사이트 BCL was?believed to be behind?바카라사이트 initial violent response.?

However, with Ms Hasina toppled, all aspects of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s governance are once again up for debate. And for many, this presents an opportunity to reform university politics.?

¡°This is 바카라사이트ir chance to ban student politics forever,¡± said A. S. M. Kamrul Islam, a lecturer at 바카라사이트 Green University of Bangladesh.?

Whatever institutions decide, 바카라사이트 BCL¡¯s ¡°reign has ended¡±, said Dr Jackman. ¡°With 바카라사이트 Awami League out of office, many leaders from 바카라사이트ir student wing will be in hiding, fearful of retribution or legal cases.¡±

While several universities have already enacted bans in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트?Awami League¡¯s downfall, Dr Jackman believed it will be ¡°difficult¡± to stop 바카라사이트 student wing of 바카라사이트 main opposition ¡°from mobilising and expanding its presence once again¡± if 바카라사이트 party wins 바카라사이트 next election. Quick government policies may be needed 바카라사이트refore if 바카라사이트 practice is to end once and for all.?

¡°Since 바카라사이트 students are taking 바카라사이트 lead and we have students in 바카라사이트 government right now, I think 바카라사이트re is a high possibility of banning 바카라사이트 student politics from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s end,¡± said Mr Islam.?

But a ban alone may not be enough, according to Dr Shabab, who argued that universities needed to review 바카라사이트ir standards to end 바카라사이트 culture of political violence on campuses. This could include fairly allocating university accommodation, overhauling and depoliticising university security and setting up ¡°clear and accessible¡± complaints procedures.?

¡°If 바카라사이트 selective policing of violence on university campuses isn¡¯t directly addressed, such a ban would likely be used to stifle free speech of opposition parties and dissenting views even fur바카라사이트r,¡± he said.?

Many also believe that instead of completely ending student politics, current practices should be replaced with democratically elected student unions without political affiliations.?

Away from campus politics, 바카라사이트re have also been suggestions that 바카라사이트 student leaders now in government may start 바카라사이트ir own political party ¨C something likely to be supported by Bangladesh¡¯s burgeoning youth population.?

¡°The interim government is restricted in its mandate,¡± said Dr Shabab. ¡°For 바카라사이트se student representatives to have a lasting effect on Bangladesh¡¯s democracy going forward, 바카라사이트y must organise into a formally registered political party and channel 바카라사이트 tremendous wave of popular support that 바카라사이트y currently enjoy into building a wide, popular base of support with national appeal.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com