PHOTO: ORCHID CHAKMA

FROM PAGE 4

“If these groups somehow made their way back into the campus, it’ll be very traumatising for the common students, especially for the dorm students who’ve witnessed what these groups are capable of firsthand, for years now. After the attacks, even the students who weren’t aware of the violent nature of these political groups are conscious now,” she added.

But even after the recent violent spree on university campuses all over the country, students still want to go back to their campuses and get back to classes. However, they don’t want to return under the previous circumstances, but under a new campus run by and for the general students.

“Firstly, to ensure their safe return to the campus, the illegal arrests by the law enforcement authorities must be stopped and the students’ complete safety must be guaranteed,” said Imran Hassan Shuvo, a student of Jahangirnagar University (JU).

He furthers said, “In JU, law enforcement agencies, politically active groups, and armed thugs have attacked the students. The campus needs to be made safe from them. A proper environment must be ensured for students to reside in the dormitories. Only when the security of the general students can be ensured, the students will be able to return without fear.”

Ishat also adds, “We’ve worked really hard to ban student politics from our dorms. As we’ve got signed documents from our provosts banning student politics, we would like to keep it that way. Considering the havoc that was caused by these politically active groups, it would be better if we could abolish student politics altogether. Rather, we need to have non-political student forums in every institution that would help us, the students, connect with the administration.”

In regards to the matter, Nowrin adds, “After the recent violence on general students by the politically active students, we’ve conducted batch-wise surveys on whether they want student politics or not and up until now, more than 95 percent of students are against student politics on campus.”

“The general students have presented a 6-point demand, which includes– banning student politics on campus, rusticating those involved in the attacks on the protesters, banning any sort of politics or lobbying regarding hall allotments, evicting all non-student hall residents immediately, formal apology from our principal and a guarantee of taking no academic measures or threats against the protesters. Only then will the general students return to the campus again,” Nowrin said.

“As a student, I would like to see the dorms free from any political influence,” said Rafayet. “The hall allotments should be as per merit. I would also like to see our teachers held accountable and performing their duties fairly and ensuring the students’ safety. All of us want politics banned from the campus at this point.”

Although it started as a quota reform movement, due to the unimaginable violence inflicted upon the students and citizens over time, the movement has changed its direction. For university students, it’s not just about quota reform anymore. It’s a struggle and an opportunity for them to renovate their university, reform student political conditions on campus, and for the general students to take control over what’s rightfully theirs.

*Names have been changed upon request.