Leaders of the Socialist Student Front (SSF) on Tuesday demanded sweeping reforms in Bangladesh’s education sector, accusing successive governments of deepening inequality, commercialising education, and failing to ensure democratic environments on university campuses.

The demands were raised at a student rally organised by the Dhaka Metropolitan branch of the Socialist Student Front in front of the National Press Club on 13 May. The programme also introduced the organisation’s newly elected committee formed through its 13th council.

The rally was presided over by Dhaka Metropolitan President Anik Kumar Das and moderated by Organising Secretary Inzamamul Haque. Among the speakers were Bangladesh Socialist Party (BASAD) Dhaka Metropolitan In-Charge Comrade Nikhil Das, Socialist Student Front Central General Secretary Raihan Uddin, and International Affairs Secretary Rina Murmu.

Student leaders from different units of the organisation, including Titumir College, Eden College, Mirpur, and Banani, also addressed the gathering.

Following the rally, activists brought out a procession carrying banners, festoons, and red flags. The march started from the National Press Club and ended at Paltan intersection.

Speakers alleged that despite repeated political changes in government, Bangladesh’s education crisis continues to worsen.

They said the organisation has long been campaigning for a universal, science-based, secular, and discrimination-free education system while opposing the commercialisation of education and communal politics.

The leaders criticised the lack of playgrounds and libraries for children and teenagers in Dhaka, claiming the absence of social and cultural spaces is contributing to the rise of juvenile gangs.

They also renewed demands for introducing mid-day meal programmes in schools, arguing that students are increasingly becoming dependent on coaching centres and guidebooks instead of classroom learning.

The speakers further claimed that public spending on education remains inadequate, while private education is being promoted as the mainstream model. They alleged that reduced admission seats in higher education institutions have made access to education more difficult for lower-income students.

Addressing campus politics, the leaders accused “identified fundamentalist student groups” of attempting to create anti-political environments in educational institutions by misusing the banners of general students.

They also criticised extortion, hall occupation, and partisan dominance in campuses, calling for the establishment of “ideological and democratic student politics.”

At the end of the programme, Central General Secretary Raihan Uddin formally introduced the newly elected 14-member Dhaka Metropolitan committee, including President Anik Kumar Das, Vice-President Yasir Arafat, General Secretary Inzamamul Haque, and Organising Secretary Dip Halder.

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