Underground politics should be banned in educational institutions: Chhatra Dal president

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) President Rakibul Islam Rakib has demanded that 'underground politics' should be banned in all educational institutions in the country.

He raised the demand at a programme titled ‘March for Justice’ organised in front of the Engineers Institution in the capital on Saturday (January 18) afternoon, demanding justice for the 'terrorist activities' carried out by Bangladesh Chhatra League, the banned student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League.

The JCD leaders and activists brought out a procession from the Engineers Institution. Beginning from Shahbagh, the procession marched towards Teacher-Student Centre at Dhaka University and ended at Central Shaheed Minar with a rally.

Moderated by JCD General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, the rally was also addressed, among others, by President Rakibul Islam Rakib, DU unit President Ganesh Chandra Roy, and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon.

Demanding a ban on underground politics in universities, JCD president Rakib said, “There is no reality for underground politics after the fall of fascist regime, Rakib said, adding that if any student organisation is still involved in underground politics, they will be thought to be involved in conspiracy like 1971.”

He condemned attempts by a group to destroy the unity among students and the masses that was formed during the uprising.

Calling on the university vice-chancellors and college principals, Rakib said, "The leaders and activists of Chhatra League must be brought to justice as soon as possible. Although investigation committees were formed to probe Chhatra League attacks on general students in different universities including DU and JU, the reports of those investigations are yet to be published even after five and a half months. The investigations have to be completed quickly and studentship of the BCL leaders and activists who took part in the attacks must be cancelled. We are not giving any ultimatum. We are calling for action as soon as possible."

He demanded all university administrations publish investigation committees’ reports regarding the criminal activities and to expel those responsible.

JCD senior vice-president Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahya said, ‘The defeated forces of 1971 and 2024 are trying to forge an alliance.’

BCL activists carried out criminal activities on the campuses during Hasina’s fascist regime and the uprising.

University administrations supported BCL in carrying out those activities, Afsan said, adding that those BCL activists and collaborators are not being tried and punished.

‘All the criminal activities of the BCL must be tried,’ said Afsan.

Hundreds of JCD leaders and activists, mostly from Dhaka and nearby cities, attended the March for Justice procession stretching from the Dhaka Club point of Shahbagh to the Supreme Court main gate.