Pavipravi Representative:
Despite the ban on student politics at Patuakhali University of Science and Technology (PUST), a public meeting of the PUST Chhatra Dal was held.
The rally was held at the university's TSC conference hall on Sunday (February 16). The public event, despite the university banning student politics, has sparked outrage among ordinary students.
There have been allegations that students were forcibly taken from the common rooms of the university's residential halls to the workers' meeting to participate in the workers' meeting. Some students in the common room said that they were threatened with throwing away their bedding and being thrown out of the hall if they did not participate in the program. They even made comments that they would come back to meet them after the program. The reporter has some information and evidence in this regard.
In addition, there have been allegations that the university's regular bus schedule for the Barisal campus was canceled and buses were brought to the staff conference. This has caused inconvenience to more than a hundred regular students going from the Barisal campus to Barisal city.
Eyewitnesses also said that some activists associated with the Chhatra League in the past were seen present in the front row of the workers' conference.
A student of the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences of the 23rd-24th session, who did not wish to be named, said, “The kind of behavior of the so-called Chhatra Dal leaders of the university is like a replica of the fascist Chhatra League of the past. We are drawing the attention of the administration to this matter.”
Samad Naqib, a student of the 17-18 session of the Faculty of Business Administration, said, "Chhatra Dal activities are being conducted under the umbrella of the administration, keeping nominal politics banned. The way Chhatra Dal leaders have behaved disorderly after entering the public room is a bad sign for the current Paviprabi."
When contacted, the university's registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Iktiar Uddin, said, "The vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor and proctor are duly informed about the student union's workers' conference. I only implement the orders of the vice-chancellor, I have no power beyond that."
But when asked about this, the university's proctor, Professor Abul Bashar Khan, commented that he knew nothing about the Chhatra Dal's program.
When asked about the matter, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Kazi Rafiqul Islam said, “I do not know how the Chhatra Dal workers’ meeting was held in the TSC conference room despite the fact that student politics is banned in the university. However, I have asked the proctor and student affairs advisor to look into the incident.” He added, “Student politics is banned on campus till now.”
It is worth noting that on August 13, following a student petition, an office order signed by the then Registrar, Professor Dr. SM Hemayet Jahan, banned all forms of politics from PUBRI.
