An executive meeting of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union yesterday accepted a proposal for pressing a ban on religion-based student politics on the campus.

As per the meeting agenda, Ducsu Literature Affairs Secretary Mazharul Kabir Shayon placed the proposal, which was granted unanimously, said meeting sources.

Ducsu General Secretary Golam Rabbani, who was removed from the general secretary post of Chhatra League on September 15 on extortion charges, was not present.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, also the president of the student union, said, “As Dhaka University is a democratic institution and a place of non-communal values and spirit, there is no room for any religion-based politics here. The Ducsu has urged the university administration to remain careful so that they [religion-based student organisations] cannot carry out their activities on the campus.”

Speaking to The Daily Star, Ducsu Assistant General Secretary Saddam Hussain said, “Religion-based politics was banned on the campus long ago. The meeting officially banned it yesterday.”

Asked about Rabbani’s absence at the meeting, he said Rabbani could not attend the meeting due to “personal reasons”.

The meeting also discussed issues relating to the university’s evening courses, the seat crisis at the library and the accommodation programme at dormitories. 

At the meeting, Ducsu Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur claimed that Golam Rabbani lost his organisational post because of his moral degradation. He demanded that the Chhatra League leader be removed from the Ducsu post as well.

Talking to The Daily Star later in the day, two Ducsu leaders, wishing not to be named, said union leaders elected from the BCL panel are against Nur’s demand.

Nur also demanded scrapping studentship of seven Ducsu leaders who allegedly got enrolled in the evening programmes without sitting for any admission tests.

This was the third executive meeting of the Ducsu after its election was held on March 11, 2018.