Private university students are demanding that a special committee appoint interim government advisers

In the wake of the ongoing controversy over the appointment of advisors, the combined private university unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has demanded that the government form a committee to determine the members of the Advisory Council.

The committee should include representatives from political parties, public universities, private universities, National University, Dhaka University, seven colleges and madrassas so that advisors are not appointed arbitrarily.

They also demanded the appointment of advisors accepted by political parties who contributed to the independence of Bangladesh and an agricultural scientist.

The students made this demand at a press conference titled “Position of Combined Private University Students Considering the Overall Situation of Bangladesh 2.0” at the National Press Club’s Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall.

They presented a total of nine demands at the press conference, including compensation and rehabilitation for the families of those injured or killed during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led to the mass uprising that ousted the previous Awami League-led government in August.

Furthermore, they asked the government to immediately resolve the lack of coordination and mismanagement in the treatment of those injured during the movement; forming a patrol team including students to monitor markets across the country and abolish syndication to control rising commodity prices.

Furthermore, they demanded that the government form a committee to take action against those responsible for genocide during the student movement by monitoring the news and documentaries published in various news channels and social media. The committee must include student representatives.

Furthermore, the students demanded the rewriting and amendment of the Constitution; abolition of the 15% VAT imposed on private universities, as students at those universities study at their own expense; carrying out all activities of reform committees based on opinion polls; and strengthening the LGRD Ministry.

The interim government is criticized for the choice of its advisors. The latest controversy over this came to light after the appointment of four new advisors last week. Leaders of major political parties, the anti-discrimination student movement and university students have alleged that there are supporters of the ousted Awami League-led government in the current government.

On November 10, after the swearing-in of the new advisors, student movement coordinator Sarjis Alam said in a Facebook post, “13 advisors from just one division! While there is no advisor from the 16 districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi division in North Bengal! Moreover, allies of murderer Hasina are also among the advisors!”

The next day, the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement demanded the immediate removal of those they called “allies of the fascist” who had been appointed as new advisors. They also threatened to enforce a “North Bengal Blockade” program if their demand to appoint an advisor to the interim government of Rangpur division was not met.

Following their announcement, a group of students today blocked the Rangpur-Dhaka highway and demanded the appointment of advisors to the interim government of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.