Chhatra Dal, Odhikar Parishad, other leftist student orgs skip Anti-Discrimination Student Movement meeting

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Islami Chhatra Andolan, and the Student Federation abstained from attending the second discussion meeting organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement following the end of "National Student Solidarity Week." 

Leaders of these organisations cited a lack of trust in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, accusing it of monopolising student representation.

However, Sibgatullah, central literature secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir, attended today's meeting.

Yesterday (3 December), Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced the meeting scheduled for today. 

He emphasised the movement's commitment to addressing the national crisis through a consensus of all student organisations.

On 25 November, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held an emergency meeting with 19 student organisations for three key objectives. While Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad participated in that meeting, five of the 19 organisations did not attend today's meeting. 

Meanwhile, progressive student organisations have maintained their distance from the movement since its inception. 

Speaking to The Business Standard, Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir explained their decision to abstain.

"We observed that during the chief adviser's meeting with student leaders involved in the uprising, only leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were allowed to participate. Additionally, in various reform commissions and district administration initiatives, only one platform is being represented under the guise of student representation. This selective inclusion is creating divisions and undermines the commitment made in July-August to build an inclusive Bangladesh," he said.

Nasir further noted that while the interim government promised to engage students in activities such as reform projects and initiatives related to martyrs, only one specific group has been included in all proceedings. 

"Discussions have not been held with other organisations, and the recent talks led by the chief adviser involved only a few coordinators. The promise of inclusive national unity from the mass uprising has now been reduced to the narrow scope of a single group," he added.

He concluded by stating that Chhatra Dal is monitoring the situation closely to understand the motives behind the participation or absence of different organisations. 

"We will decide on our course of action after thoroughly analysing the situation," he said.
Hasan Inam, member secretary of Swadhin Bangladesh Chhatra Sangsad, said, "We participated in the first all-party meeting called by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and also took part in the National Student Solidarity Week. Initially, we responded to their leadership for national unity. However, despite their emphasis on all-party unity, I see no tangible actions to build trust. 

"Meetings with the reform commission or the chief adviser only include representatives from their group. We cannot trust this approach, which is why we decided to boycott the meeting."

He further criticised the student movement's exclusivity, saying, "They operate like a King's Party, eroding trust. While they call for unity on the streets, they dominate the policy-making level alone, excluding other student bodies."

Similarly, Bin Yamin Mollah, president of the Student Rights Council, expressed dissatisfaction. 

"The meeting was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but it was postponed without notifying us, and they met with the chief adviser on their own. Our proposal was for all student leaders to sit with the chief adviser to form a National Student Council under his guidance. Instead, their exclusive meetings create unequal competition," he said.

Mollah went on to say, "Calling for unity in public while sidelining others behind closed doors undermines true solidarity. Unity among student organisations is the foundation of national unity, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has failed to achieve that."

Meanwhile, Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told The Business Standard that 14 organisations that participated in the previous meeting also attended today's meeting.

"We cannot comment on why some groups, including the Chhatra Dal, did not attend," she added. 

Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organiser of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said representatives from about 30 organisations attended today's meeting.

At a press briefing this evening, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said, "We have decided to hold student council elections in all institutions by the last week of January or first week of February. All student organisations have agreed to this."
Sibgatullah, central literature secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir, said student organisations will submit outlines and proposals aimed at reforming corrupt student politics by 20 December. 

"These outlines will then be refined through open discussions to shape the future of student politics," he said.