Student orgs split over student union polls at univs, colleges

• JCD wants sufficient time before student unions polls 
• Anti-Discrimination Student Movement demands polls by Feb 2025 
• The platform held a meeting on Wednesday regarding the elections 
• JCD was invited to the meeting but did not attend 
• It held a meeting excluding Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Shibir 
• Progressive orgs have kept distance from Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Shibir

 Ahead of the announcement of student union elections at universities and colleges, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have split into two factions, voicing different demands. 

 The Chhatra Dal calls for sufficient time and opportunity before elections, while the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement insists that elections should be held by February 2025.

 Recently, two separate meetings were held among the student organisations.

 On Wednesday (4 December), the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, along with the Islami Chhatra Shibir and 30 other organisations, held a meeting and decided to pressure the administration to hold the student union elections by February 2025.

 The Chhatra Dal was invited to the meeting but did not attend it.

On Thursday (5 December), the Chhatra Dal had a meeting with 28 organisations where the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Islami Chhatra Shibir were not invited. 

Central Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir told The Business Standard, "We held a meeting with 28 student organisations, including the Chhatra Union, Chhatra Maitri and Chhatra Federation, who are mainly active and centered on Dhaka University."

"For the last 15 years, the Chhatra League's terrorist politics has prevented other organisations from participating in politics. Students will need time to recover from the trauma of the July massacre. Attempting to rush elections without giving students adequate time will cause divisions among organisations. 

"The student union elections should not be tied to the national elections. We support both elections, but they should be held in a reasonable time frame. Those who want to hold elections must be given the proper time and opportunity to assess the situation," he added.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Umama Fatema, said, "It is up to the Chhatra Dal to decide whom to invite to their meeting. However, this is a crucial time for national unity. This is not the time for division. If such splits are visible to the public, trust in national unity will decrease. Therefore, all organisations must make mature decisions."

Fatema emphasised the need for student union elections by the first week of February, saying, "Democratic student politics and a student-friendly environment are urgently needed for institutions. We must also consider the institutions at the grassroots level, not just Dhaka University."

She added, "Students' union elections must take place before the national elections because students led the movement during the people's uprising. First, we must ensure their democratic rights and restore trust in the electoral system. Only then can national elections be accepted. Otherwise, they will repeat the same pattern."     

Chhatra Odhikar Parishad President Bin Yamin Mollah, who participated in the Chhatra Dal meeting, said, "The student union election must be held in an environment that ensures fair competition. Our political journey will have its reactions and counter-reactions, but the activities of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement are raising doubts."

Speaking to TBS, Sadeq Abdullah, publicity secretary of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, said, "We want the student union elections to commence by February. This will restore a regular environment in the universities. We must work together during this time of national unity. Divided meetings will send a negative message to the student community. However, we continue to communicate with the leaders of all organisations in the interest of national unity."

Earlier, in a press release, leaders of the Chhatra Dal criticised the activities of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, claiming that since the July uprising, their leaders have pushed student organisations participating in the movement toward disunity. 

The national unity formed on the blood of thousands during the revolution is now under threat due to factional interests, it added. 

They argued that the leadership of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement cannot deny responsibility for any potential collapse of the unity formed during the uprising.

On 25 November, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held an urgent meeting with 19 student organisations, including the Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, to resolve inter-institutional conflicts.

But five of the 19 organisations – the Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Swadhin Bangladesh Chhatra Sangsad, Islami Chhatra Andolan, and the Student Federation – were absent from the second meeting on Wednesday.

Additionally, progressive student organisations have kept their distance from the process since the beginning.