DUCSU warns against campus attack, vendor eviction protests

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) leaders have issued stern warnings following violence and demonstrations over recent security operations on campus. The incidents occurred on Saturday evening after authorities intensified eviction drives targeting vagrants and illegal street vendors.

Omar Faruk, a member of the university's Proctorial Security Surveillance team, was attacked by a group of youths, including suspected students, near Shahbagh Police Station whilst managing a traffic control barricade. "We had set up a barricade to regulate traffic movement on campus. In the evening, a group of youths got into an argument and then attacked us. Some of them appeared to be students," Faruk told The Daily Observer.

Simultaneously, students and hawkers staged a protest march against the eviction operations. Witnesses reported that leaders and activists from left-leaning student organisations participated in the demonstration, chanting various slogans.

DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad delivered a firm warning: "The true stakeholders of Dhaka University are its students, teachers, officers and staff. No drug dealer, unregistered shopkeeper or hawker has any connection to the university." He added, "Let me be clear—either DUCSU will exist, or the illegal business and drug syndicate will. We will not allow both to continue side by side."

DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair criticised the protest organisers, stating, "This afternoon, the administration removed illegal street vendors. Now, the leftists are rallying them to hold processions on campus! We sacrifice our personal lives to keep the campus safe, and they come here to cause chaos!"

University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed a meeting scheduled for tomorrow with the Proctorial Team and DUCSU representatives to investigate student participation and determine appropriate action.

NRE/AM