DU Student Leaders Lay Siege to Syndicate Meeting Over Housing Reform Demands

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Leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) staged a protest Tuesday evening outside the university’s Senate building, demanding the immediate implementation of transparent and student-friendly housing policies. The demonstration coincided with a meeting of the university’s highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, held at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building.

The protest began at approximately 6:00 p.m. as student leaders gathered outside the Senate building, eventually moving to the entrance of the conference room by 6:25 p.m. Throughout the evening, protesters chanted slogans condemning the persistence of “gonoroom” (crowded mass-seating) culture and the intimidation tactics associated with guestroom politics. Demands focused on the creation of a merit-based, transparent seat allotment policy to ensure dignified living conditions for all students.

The demonstration saw the participation of several prominent student representatives, including DUCSU Transportation Secretary Asif Abdullah, Social Services Secretary A.B. Zubayer, and Literary and Cultural Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad, along with leaders from various residential hall councils.

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Tensions escalated around 7:00 p.m. when student leaders engaged in a heated exchange with assistant proctors Enamul Haque Sajib, Rezaul Karim Sohag, and Shantu Barua. The discourse centered on a recent attack on students near the Shahbag police station, an incident the DUCSU leaders argued had not been sufficiently addressed by the university administration.

Addressing the administration’s response to the violence, DUCSU Social Services Secretary A.B. Zubayer expressed frustration, asserting that the student body had sought a systematic resolution through official university channels. He criticized the administration’s handling of the situation, claiming their posture mirrored that of the political organizations responsible for the unrest. Zubayer maintained that while students exercised restraint to preserve campus stability, the administration’s perceived inaction was failing to protect the student community.