Private uni students demand special committee to appoint interim govt advisers
They demanded the appointment of advisers who are accepted by political parties, have contributed to the independence of Bangladesh and an agricultural scientist
In the wake of the ongoing controversy regarding the appointment of advisers, the combined private university unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has demanded that the government form a committee to determine the members of the Advisory Council.
The committee should be comprised of representatives of political parties, public universities, private universities, the National University, Dhaka University affiliated seven colleges and madrasahs so that advisers are not appointed arbitrarily.
Besides, they demanded the appointment of advisers who are accepted by political parties, have contributed to the independence of Bangladesh and an agricultural scientist.
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The students made the demand at a press conference titled "Position of combined private university students considering the overall situation of Bangladesh 2.0" in the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club.
They presented a total of nine demands at the press conference, including compensation and rehabilitation for the families of those injured or killed during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led to the mass uprising that ousted the previous Awami League-led government in August.
Besides, they asked the government to immediately resolve the lack of coordination and mismanagement in treating those injured during the movement; forming a patrol team with the inclusion of students to monitor markets across the country and abolish syndication in order to control spiralling commodity prices.
In addition, they demanded that the government form a committee to take action against those responsible for genocide during the student movement by checking the news and documentaries published in various news outlets and social media. The committee must include representatives of students.
Furthermore, the students demanded the rewriting and amendment of the Constitution; removal of the 15% VAT imposed on private universities as students at those universities study at their own expense; conducting all activities of reform commissions on the basis of public opinion polls; and empowering the LGRD ministry.
The interim government is facing criticism over its choice of advisers. The latest spate of controversy in this regard came to surface following the appointment of four new advisers last week. Leaders of major political parties, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and university students have alleged that there are supporters of the ousted Awami League-led government in the current administration.
On 10 November, following the oath-taking of the new advisers, student movement coordinator Sarjis Alam in a Facebook post, "13 advisers from only one division! Whereas there is no adviser from the 16 districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi division of North Bengal! Moreover, allies of murderer Hasina are also among the advisers!"
The following day, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement demanded the immediate removal of those who they referred to as "allies of the fascist" appointed as new advisers. They also threatened to enforce a "North Bengal Blockade" programme if their demand of appointing an adviser to the interim government from the Rangpur division was not met.
Following their announcement, today, a group of students blocked the Rangpur-Dhaka highway demanding the appointment of advisers to the interim government from the Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.
