By Siam Al Zaki
Writer
Introduction: Students as the Cradle of Democracy
In any society, universities are not just centers of learning. They are the cradle of democracy, leadership, and social transformation. Bangladesh’s history itself proves this. From the Language Movement of 1952 to the Liberation War of 1971 and the anti-autocracy movements of the 1990s, students have been at the heart of democratic struggles.
In the recent mass uprising of July, we witnessed the expression of the highest political aspirations of the students and the masses. Yet, ironically, in the very place where critical thought should flourish, student unions like Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) have remained inactive for decades. The absence of CUCSU has left a vacuum in democratic practice within campus. Without a formal platform, students’ voices remain fragmented, marginalized, and often manipulated by partisan forces. Reviving CUCSU is not just about student politics. It is about reclaiming a democratic culture inside the university that can ripple out into national politics.
Lessons from Around the World
Universities across the globe have student unions that serve as laboratories of democracy:
- United States: Student governments are central to campus life. They control budgets, negotiate with administrations, and even influence national debates on climate policy or racial justice.
- United Kingdom: The National Union of Students (NUS) has historically played a role in anti-racism movements and in pushing for accessible higher education.
- South Africa: During apartheid, student unions like SASO (South African Students’ Organisation) produced leaders like Steve Biko, who connected student activism with national liberation struggles.
- India: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) is famous for producing leaders who later shaped national politics, while ensuring campus debates remain tied to social justice issues.
- Sri Lanka: Student unions often become negotiating bodies between students and administrations, creating a democratic mechanism for resolving conflict.
These examples show that student unions are not mere symbolic bodies. They are schools of democracy, shaping leaders and practices that influence wider society.
Why CUCSU Matters for Bangladesh
1. Democratic Transition within Universities
Universities should reflect democratic governance. Without CUCSU, decisions are taken top-down by administrations, often detached from student needs. A functioning CUCSU would allow participatory decision-making, training students in democratic negotiation, compromise, and accountability.
2. Alternative to Partisan Violence
Bangladesh’s campus politics has often been reduced to clashes between party-backed student organizations. CUCSU could institutionalize representation, replacing street clashes with elections, debates, and collective bargaining.
3. Leadership Training Ground
Almost all major political leaders of Bangladesh began their journey in student politics. Reviving CUCSU would nurture the next generation of democratic leaders, instead of letting leadership formation depend solely on partisan loyalty.
4. Policy Advocacy and Student Welfare
Rising tuition fees, accommodation crises, and lack of research opportunities remain unresolved because students lack an organized voice. CUCSU could become the legitimate bridge between students and administration, ensuring welfare policies are more transparent and responsive.
5. Democratizing National Politics
Bangladesh needs a culture of listening, dialogue, and compromise. By restoring CUCSU, universities can produce graduates already trained in democratic culture — something our national politics desperately lacks.
A Practical Scenario: The First-Year Student
Imagine a first-year student from a rural village entering Chittagong University with dreams of learning and freedom. Without CUCSU, she has no elected representative to raise her concerns about hostel safety or tuition burdens. She is left to the mercy of bureaucracy or partisan intermediaries.
Now imagine if she could vote for her representative, debate policies in open forums, and hold leaders accountable in CUCSU assemblies. That experience itself would be democratic education beyond textbooks. It would teach her that her voice matters, that compromise is possible, and that conflict can be resolved through dialogue, not violence.
This is why CUCSU matters not just as a body, but as a culture, a space for practicing democracy in everyday life.
A Call for Revival: Youth and Democracy
If Bangladesh is to revive its democracy, it must begin with its youth. Reviving CUCSU would not only empower students but also restore universities as pioneers of democratic transition. Other countries have shown that student unions are essential for bridging classrooms and citizenship. Bangladesh cannot afford to silence its student voice any longer.
That is why CUCSU is not just necessary. It is urgent.
