Bangladeshi Student Organizations Call for Resistance Against Islamist Student Wing Shibir’s Campus Presence

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Bangladesh Chhatra Union have jointly called for strong resistance against attempts to reintegrate Islami Chhatra Shibir, the Islamist student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, into campus politics. The organizations emphasized the critical need to ensure democratic coexistence in universities and to reactivate student unions nationwide, including the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).
In their statement, Mukta Baroi, President of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (BASAD), General Secretary Raihan Uddin, and Bangladesh Chhatra Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza and General Secretary Bahauddin Shubho held Dhaka University’s administration responsible for allegedly violating the resolutions of the Paribesh Parishad. They accused the administration of covertly facilitating the presence of Shibir on campus and demanded an immediate meeting of the Paribesh Parishad to establish a democratic framework for campus politics.
The statement criticized the suppression of student politics following earlier campus uprisings. The leaders pointed out that student politics has been banned in 33 educational institutions, including 19 public universities, four government colleges, and 10 medical colleges, under the pretext of curbing violence and addressing administrative challenges. At Dhaka University, hall administrations have similarly restricted political activities, silencing student voices. They argued that holding elections in such an undemocratic environment would fail to produce legitimate student unions and called for the immediate reversal of these restrictive measures.
The organizations expressed alarm over the increasing visibility of Islami Chhatra Shibir on campuses, emphasizing its identity as the Islamist student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. They alleged that the university administration has failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding Shibir’s involvement in campus activities and accused it of making covert efforts to rehabilitate the organization. The statement highlighted Shibir’s roots in Islami Chhatra Sangha, which played a key role in forming Al-Badr, the paramilitary group responsible for the intellectual massacre during the 1971 Liberation War. Even after independence, Shibir continued to engage in violent and extremist activities, leading institutions like Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and BUET to ban the group and similar organizations.
The Paribesh Parishad, a representative body of active student organizations at Dhaka University, had earlier declared Shibir and another extremist group, Jatiya Chhatra Samaj, unwelcome on campus. The leaders demanded an explanation from the administration for its apparent violation of this resolution and called for an immediate council meeting to reaffirm the ban and outline a democratic roadmap for campus politics.
The controversy escalated on December 10, when Dhaka University hosted a two-phase discussion titled “The Nature and Trends of Campus Politics.” During the second session, representatives from Biplabi Chhatra Moitree, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (Marxist), and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (BASAD) staged a walkout in protest of Shibir’s participation. Jabir Ahmed Jubel, General Secretary of Biplabi Chhatra Moitree, strongly condemned Shibir’s inclusion, stating, “Those who have opposed fascism on campus have never shared a platform with Islami Chhatra Shibir. Their controversial role during the Liberation War and the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s led to their exclusion under the Paribesh Parishad.” Jubel further asserted that no student organization could collaborate with Shibir under any circumstances, prompting their withdrawal from the discussion.
The Chhatra Front and Chhatra Union concluded their statement with a call for collective resistance to prevent Shibir’s reintegration into campus politics. They reiterated the importance of restoring student unions, upholding democratic principles, and ensuring that campuses remain safe and progressive spaces. The organizations urged all stakeholders to stand united in resisting extremism and preserving the democratic environment of educational institutions.