The University Reform Initiative (URI) has presented an eight-point plan on student politics, which includes prohibiting all forms of party politics in residential and academic areas on the Dhaka University campus and enabling all candidates to run independently in the DUCSU or Hall Union elections.

DU students Adnan Mustari and Rafia Rehnuma presented the proposal at a press conference at Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA) office on Saturday.

Tamim Muntasir, Anwar Ibrahim Biplab, Zobair Hossain Shahid, and Redwanul Hasan Shanto, among other students, attended the press conference.

The recommendations are:

1. All party political programs would be prohibited in residential areas such as halls and dormitories, as well as academic settings such as Dhaka University faculties, departments, and institutes.

2. No individual or group utilizing any political identification or connection shall attempt to exercise influence in the aforementioned locations, seek any privilege, or request special attention.

3. If a student is participating in the aforementioned actions, the university administration will take disciplinary action against him, and the Syndicate will be required to approve legislation in this regard.

4. No punishment will be imposed on anyone who expresses personal views or sympathizes with any political philosophy without seeking to carry out any party political program in the aforementioned locations.

5. Hall and central student council elections should be organized as soon as possible.

6. Regular undergraduate and postgraduate students of the university will be eligible to participate as candidates or voters in the elections. For undergraduate students, the difference between the admission session and the current academic year must not exceed six (6) sessions. For example, students of the 2023-24 session will be eligible to participate, as will all valid students from the 2017-18 session. Similarly, for postgraduate students, the difference between the admission session and the current session must not exceed two sessions.

7. All candidates must participate individually in Daksu or Hall Parliament elections and declare their manifestos separately. No one can conduct an election campaign as a panel.

8. An experienced panel consisting of students and teachers should prepare recommendations to amend the Constitution of Daksu to make it modern and up-to-date. The amendment of the constitution should be implemented based on the students’ opinions.

However, on whether students of political ideology can stay, Adnan Mustari said: “For the healthy development of the country, it is necessary to remove all the filthiness of student politics and have a clear understanding with the education and politics. Everyone has freedom of expression. We are not in favour of depriving anyone of their constitutional rights.”

“Students with political ideologies can stay in halls but can not conduct political activities there,” he added.

Regarding the student union, he said: “It is important to have a student union representing students in the university to highlight students’ problems to the administration, conduct social and cultural activities, and create awareness on national and international issues.”

“However, the culture of liberal politics permeated these Oxford-model student governments. Students will be represented individually. “Candidates will present their manifestos, and general students will elect their eligible representatives,” he said.