Khaleda takes U-turn on student politics

In a complete turnaround on her policy of a ban on student politics, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has asked the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to re-organise and revitalise its student wing, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

As part of the new move, the BNP's Student Affairs Secretary and state minister, Amanullah Aman, has begun a series of meetings with JCD wings of various educational institutions.

According to party insiders, it has dawned on the BNP that the recent student uprising at Dhaka University could have been easily quelled if it had a powerful student organisation there.

After the JCD captured a number of student dormitories at various educational institutions, including the University, that sparked off severe criticism from various quarters, Khaleda banned activities of the JCD central committee on November 17.

Later, she launched a campaign to ban student politics and, in her concluding speech at the last session of Parliament on July 15, she urged the opposition to a dialogue to take a decision on banning student politics.

The opposition rejected her appeal and said actions should be taken against 'criminal activities' and not student politics.

But the student upheaval following last week's police atrocities at a female dormitory of the university has upset the government's plan, and the BNP policy-makers requested Khaleda to revamp the JCD, sources said.

They said the weak JCD could not play a political role in containing or countering the movement by general students.

Convinced by the argument, Khaleda has directed Aman to sit with the JCD units at various institutions to reconstitute a stronger central committee.

"I am meeting all JCD leaders to promote fair student politics," said Aman. "We wanted a strong JCD and the prime minister has consented to our request.