A new student organization, 'Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union', has been launched at the initiative of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement. The organization's official journey began with a press conference at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University on Wednesday (February 26). Immediately after the new organization's launch, there were uproar and fights over leadership and position distribution, which has made the movement's universal platform controversial.
Islami Chhatra Shibir President Zahidul Islam wrote on Facebook, wishing the new student organization well, "It was not right to make the universal platform of the July Movement controversial due to the short-sighted decisions of some individuals. More discretion was needed in decision-making. I hope the new organization will play a leading role in establishing students' rights."
He further said, "July 36 is for everyone. Public, private, medical, engineering, madrasa (aliya, qaumi), English medium, university, school, college—all of Bangladesh—politics should be above interests for everyone. Let our country be 'Bangladesh for all'."
Internal conflicts and grievances within the organization
A scuffle broke out between the two sides over the distribution of posts during the party announcement ceremony to mark the launch of the new organization. Abdul Quader, president of the Dhaka University Parliament of the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union, has expressed regret and apologized. He wrote on his Facebook page, "The peaceful environment of the campus has been disrupted, which is undesirable. I am ashamed of this incident and apologize."
Formation of new committee
Abu Baker Majumder, former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, has been elected as the convener of the central committee of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Union, and Zahid Ahsan has been elected as the member secretary.
The new committee also includes:
- Senior Joint Convener: Towhid Mohammad Siam
- Senior Member Secretary: Rifat Rashid
- Main Organizer: Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury
- Spokesperson: Ashrafa Khatun
Background and future plans of the movement
The anti-discrimination student movement emerged in July 2023 through the anti-quota and reform movements. The Awami League government lost power on August 5 in the face of student demands and Sheikh Hasina took refuge in India. A section of the students who led that movement have taken the initiative to protect the interests of students through a new student organization.
The organization's convener, Abu Baker Majumder, said, "We acknowledge the history of struggle and independence of Bangladesh and will activate student politics based on the mass movements and fighting spirit of 1947, 1952, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1990 and 2024. Our main goal is to protect the rights of students."
