SUST Lifts Six-Year Ban on Student Political Activities, Signaling New Era of Campus Democracy

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  Published in Science and Technology on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 3:03 GMT by The Daily Star
      Locale: BANGLADESH

SUST Reverses Its Long‑Standing Ban on Student Political Activities: A New Chapter for Campus Democracy

The Bangladesh University of Science and Technology (SUST), one of the country’s most prestigious public universities, announced today that it will lift the ban it had imposed on student political activities. The decision, made by the university’s Board of Trustees, marks a significant turning point for campus life in Bangladesh and signals a broader shift in the country’s approach to student politics.

1. The Historical Context

The ban on student politics in Bangladesh was first instituted in 2017 by the then‑government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The directive aimed to curb the violent clashes that had become commonplace during elections, as well as to preserve a “peaceful academic environment.” The ban was enforced across all public universities and colleges, including SUST.

Students and political groups had long viewed the ban as an infringement on their democratic rights. In 2019, the High Court of Bangladesh, in a landmark judgment, struck down the ban as unconstitutional, arguing that it violated the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Despite this ruling, the government remained reluctant to allow student political parties to resume their activities, citing concerns over campus safety and the possibility of renewed clashes.

2. The High Court Ruling and Its Aftermath

In a 2023 ruling, the Bangladesh High Court clarified that while student politics could exist, they needed to be regulated to ensure campus safety. The court directed universities to establish a “Student Affairs Committee” to oversee student political activities, ensuring that any participation did not interfere with academic pursuits. This decision effectively lifted the blanket ban that had been in place for six years, though it left room for each university to devise its own regulatory framework.

The SUST Board of Trustees, following the High Court’s directive, convened a special meeting on Thursday, 5 March 2024. The Board, chaired by Vice‑Chancellor Dr. M. A. Hossain, passed a resolution to lift the ban entirely and to allow students to form political parties, student wings of national parties, and student-led organizations. The resolution also stipulated that all such bodies would be subject to a code of conduct, which the university would enforce through the newly created Student Affairs Committee.

3. Reactions from Students, Faculty, and Political Groups

The decision was met with enthusiastic applause from the student body. According to a report in The Daily Star, “Students from the Faculty of Engineering and Science held a small celebratory gathering in the campus courtyard, chanting slogans that celebrated democratic rights.” Several student leaders, including the president of the SUST Students’ Union, emphasized that the lifting of the ban would enable them to “engage in constructive political discourse without fear of intimidation.”

Faculty members, however, expressed cautious optimism. Dr. Nusrat Feroze, a professor in the Department of Physics, noted that “while the freedom of political engagement is essential, it must be balanced with the university’s primary goal of education. We will monitor the situation closely to ensure that academic activities remain uninterrupted.”

Political parties in Bangladesh have welcomed the development as a step toward normalising campus politics. The Awami League’s student wing, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, sent a congratulatory message to SUST, while the opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed hope that the change would bring a “healthy competitive spirit” to student politics.

4. The Road Ahead: Regulation and Oversight

The SUST Board has already begun drafting a set of guidelines that will govern student political activities. Key provisions will include:

• Mandatory Registration: All student political groups must register with the Student Affairs Committee and submit a constitution, a list of leadership, and a code of conduct.
• Code of Conduct: A set of behavioral standards, prohibiting violence, intimidation, and disruptions to academic activities.
• Monitoring and Compliance: The Student Affairs Committee will hold quarterly meetings to review the activities of student political bodies and to address any violations of the code.

These measures aim to strike a balance between restoring student political freedom and preventing the types of violence that once plagued campuses.

5. Implications for the National Landscape

SUST’s decision is likely to have a ripple effect across Bangladesh’s higher education system. As the largest science and technology university in the country, its move sets a precedent that other institutions may follow. Moreover, it provides a testing ground for the new regulatory framework that the government has been considering.

In a statement to The Daily Star, the Ministry of Education’s Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Shirin Ayesha, said: “We are closely monitoring SUST’s approach. Our objective is to ensure that student politics is conducted in a peaceful, constructive manner, benefiting both students and the nation.”

6. Conclusion

The lifting of the ban on student politics at SUST represents a critical moment in Bangladesh’s educational and political history. While it restores a fundamental democratic right to students, it also underscores the importance of regulation and oversight in preventing the return of the violent clashes that once marred campus life. The coming months will reveal whether the new framework can successfully reconcile student political engagement with academic excellence.

As the nation watches, SUST stands at the forefront of a potential renaissance in campus democracy—an experiment that, if successful, could inspire a nationwide revival of student political participation.