Protests, scuffles over announcement of new student organisation

The former coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have launched a new student organization, Bangladesh Ganatantric Chhatra Sangsad, with Abu Baker Majumder as convener and Zahid Ahsan as member secretary.

The announcement was made during a press conference at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus on Wednesday afternoon. However, tensions flared as protests and scuffles broke out between two groups over the formation of the new organization.

A faction of students demonstrated, alleging that they were not given enough positions in the newly formed body. The protest took place at Madhur Canteen around 3:00 PM, coinciding with the scheduled press conference. As former coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered for the announcement, a group of private university students objected, demanding greater representation in the central committee.

By 4:00 PM, the dispute escalated into scuffles between the two sides. Later, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement formally announced the organization's name and leadership before marching towards Mall Chattar. There, another round of clashes erupted with protesting students who claimed they had been sidelined. Eyewitnesses reported multiple injuries, though the identities of those injured could not be immediately confirmed. Additional confrontations occurred later in the evening.

Abu Baker Majumder was a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, while Zahid Ahsan, a student from Dhaka University's 2018-19 session, previously served as a coordinator and is currently the central office cell secretary of the movement.

Other key figures in the new organization include Tahmid Al Mudassir as chief organizer and Ashrefa Khatun as spokesperson, both from the 2018-19 session. Former coordinator Abdul Kader has been appointed convener of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Sangsad, gaining prominence during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement by announcing a nine-point program. Mohir Alam, also from the 2018-19 session, has been named member secretary.