Non-Regular Students Lead RU's Two Major Student Organizations

Al Mahmud Bijoy, RU Correspondent:

The top leadership positions of Rajshahi University's (RU) two major student organizations—Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (BICS)—are currently occupied by individuals who are no longer regular students of the university. Moreover, several other key office-bearers in both organizations also do not hold regular student status.

According to university sources, some of these leaders are enrolled in MPhil programmes, evening master's courses, language education programmes, or other short-term courses. However, the university administration has confirmed that students enrolled in such programmes are not recognized as regular students.

Sources further revealed that several leaders of both organizations completed their regular academic programmes years ago, with some having graduated more than a decade earlier. Despite this, both organizations' constitutions and policy guidelines emphasize that leadership and membership should be limited to regular students.

On August 16 last year, the Rajshahi University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal announced a 113-member partially full committee. Sultan Ahmed Rahi, a student of the 2009–10 session from the Department of Management Studies, was appointed president, while Sardar Jahurul Islam, from the Department of Music (2011–12 session), became general secretary.

In addition, Senior Vice-President Shakilur Rahman Sohag (Department of Islamic History and Culture, 2015–16 session), Vice-President Mehedi Hasan (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, 2012–13 session), Senior Joint General Secretary Shafiqul Islam Shafik (Department of Accounting and Information Systems, 2012–13 session), and Organizing Secretary Mahmudul Islam Mithu (Department of Information and Communication Engineering, 2015–16 session) are also reportedly no longer regular students.

However, the draft constitution of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal states that only Bangladeshi citizens who are currently enrolled as students are eligible for membership in the organization.

Meanwhile, on January 1 this year, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir announced the 2026 committee of its Rajshahi University unit. Mujahid Faisal, a student of the 2017–18 session from the Department of Islamic Studies, was named president, while Mehedi Hasan, from the Department of Arabic (2018–19 session), became secretary. According to university academic records, neither of them is currently a regular student of the university.

Regarding the matter, A.H.M. Aslam Hossain, Deputy Registrar of the Academic Section-1, said that only students enrolled in undergraduate and regular master's programmes offered by the university's 59 departments and two institutes are recognized as regular students. He added that students of evening master's programmes and language education courses are not entitled to facilities such as residential halls, transportation, medical services, or convocation, and therefore cannot be considered regular students.

Asked about serving as president despite not being a regular student, JCD RU unit President Sultan Ahmed Rahi said, "I am in the committee in the same way that the Shibir president is. I have currently applied for admission to an MPhil programme."

Repeated attempts to contact JCD General Secretary Sardar Jahurul Islam by phone were unsuccessful. However, other leaders of the organization said that he is currently enrolled in a short language course at the Institute of English and Other Languages.

Regarding his student status, RU unit Chhatra Shibir President Mujahid Faisal said, "I completed my master's degree at Rajshahi University in 2023. I am currently studying law at a private university."

Shibir Secretary Mehedi Hasan said, "I completed my master's in Arabic in 2025. I am currently pursuing an MPhil in Arabic for the 2025–26 session. According to the constitution of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, there is no issue with this."