Left-leaning Student Alliance Demands End to Privatization of Energy and Power Sectors
Photo Collected
DHAKA — The Democratic Student Alliance, a coalition of left-leaning student organizations, held a protest rally at Dhaka University on Tuesday to demand an immediate halt to the privatization of national energy and power infrastructure.
Demonstrators gathered at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture following a torchlight procession, voicing strong opposition to the transfer of essential state services to what they termed “mafia corporate groups.” The coalition demanded that the government ensure affordable and uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies while maintaining strict regulatory controls over the prices of essential medicines.
Speakers at the rally argued that critical public sectors—including energy, power, rail, and pharmaceuticals—are being systematically handed over to profit-driven private interests. They warned that subordinating these vital services to private capital would inevitably lead to increased financial burdens on the public and threaten national employment stability. Citing past privatization efforts, student leaders contended that such policies have historically served the interests of elite business conglomerates rather than the general population.
Rafikuzzaman Farid, General Secretary of the Socialist Student Front and coordinator of the Democratic Student Alliance, criticized the government’s policy trajectory. He alleged that energy imports and electricity distribution are being privatized to satisfy domestic corporate syndicates, warning that these actions effectively hold the nation hostage and drive up the cost of living.
The alliance issued three formal demands: an immediate cessation of the privatization of national energy and power distribution, including the exclusion of conglomerates like Bashundhara from these sectors; the resolution of current gas and electricity shortages; and the enforcement of government price caps on essential drugs.
The rally was moderated by Tamjid Haider Chowdhury, President of the Bangladesh Students Union. Additional speakers included Ronald Chakma, Organizing Secretary of the Hill Students Council; Arunava Ashraf, a leader of the Revolutionary Student-Youth Movement; Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Democratic Student Council; and Jabir Ahmed Jubel, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Student Federation. Sima Datta, President of the Bangladesh Nari Mukti Kendra, also attended to express solidarity with the movement.
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