In 1983, M Akhtaruzzaman was elected as the Vice President (VP) of DUCSU. In the nearly 100-year history of Dhaka University, Akhtaruzzaman is the only student leader to be elected as the General Secretary (GS) twice and VP once in the student parliament elections. He was elected as a member of the Dhaka University Senate in 1979 and served until 1985. Currently, he is the Member of Parliament for Gazipur-5, Kaliganj. In an exclusive interview with Sarakhon and TPW, he discusses the current state and future of student politics and offers insight into how the youth can keep pace with technology.

Q: Students typically belong to the progressive class in the third world. Are you satisfied with the current state of student politics?

Akhtaruzzaman: No, I am not satisfied. Our aspirations are much higher.

Q: Why are you dissatisfied?

Akhtaruzzaman: Since we were involved in student politics 20-30 years ago, the country’s facilities have improved significantly. The number of universities and colleges and the student population have all increased. Especially with the development of the information superhighway—information technology—student politics has evolved more in developed countries. Our country needs to advance in research, information technology, education, student politics, sports, culture, and more to keep pace.

During certain periods, our student politics was notably clean, especially under Pakistani rule for 23 years, when they colonized us. The students then had the courage and patriotism to protest, contributing to the success of the 1969 mass uprising, the 6-point movement, and, eventually, the liberation war. Similarly, during the regimes of Ziaur RahmanHowever,d Ershad and the two years post 1/11, students played a crucial role in upholding democracy.

With regabout ular elections and a democratic environment, the focu. should be on enhancing our education and technological proficiency to effectively participate in the job markets of countries with decreasing populations, as per the UN-declared Demographic Dividend.

For the next 35 years, our youth will be in in the workforce, necessitating a focus on technological proficiencStudenteorganizations’ manifestosons should be information-based and technology-driven to foster skilled and conscious citizens who can create their own job opportunities.

Q: With the rapid advancement of modern technology, how should the youth in our country adapt?

Akhtaruzzaman: Modern technology is progressing rapidly, and we must keep pace. This requires more initiatives from the government, private sector, individuals, and institutions. Without these, we risk falling behind.

Q: You are one of the few experienced politicians who have emerged from student politics in our country. So, naturally, I would like to knu, what kind of student politido you think the current young generation shoupursue.do?

Akhtaruzzaman: they need to know much more about the present. It needs to be much more up-to-date. Need to be more creative. The young society, especially the student community, needs to know about technology. Along with general education, they must improve themselves in technical and technological education. They should make themselves proficient in the skills of the future because the whole world is changing through information technology.

50 years ago, most of the wealthy people in the world were owners of shipping companies, car and plane companies. But in the last 30 years, the owners of information technology companies have risen to the top 20 to 50 richest people. Such as Google, Meta-Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Tesla, SpaceX etc. But at the core of these companies is information technology. Now, innovation means success.

Q: Tell us one or two incidents of student politics in your time-

Akhtaruzzaman: I was not yet the VP-GS of DUCSU. I was an active worker of the student organization at that time. Our Aparajeyo Bangla (sculpture) was about to be broken. We all stood together to resist it. Such an incident happened within two years of Ziaur Rahman coming to power. 

We did student politics against military rule; we did the anti-Ershad student movement. At that time we formed the Student Struggle Council.

Another incident was in mid-February 1983, when Zainul-Zafar were shot and killed, they became martyrs. We were protesting for education policy and democracy at that time. We were protesting against Majid Khan’s education policy. At that time, I was giving a speech in front of Aparajeyo Bangla. All the political figures came and expressed solidarity with us. In particular, the current Prime Minister, the leader of the nation Sheikh Hasina, came and expressed solidarity with us at that time. Many more political figures came there. When we were about to come out in a procession at 5 pm, the police-BDR gathered together and attacked. We all dispersed. This movement is known as the mid-February movement.

Q: What kind of dedication should the new generation have, what advice would you give them?

Akhtaruzzaman: First, they have to be politically conscious. By politics, I mean the spirit of the liberation war of 1971, we are a secular nation, that is, we will respect all religions, we will be respectful of democracy. Attention should be paid to reducing the disparity between the rich and the poor. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said, “The world today is divided into two parts – the exploiter and the exploited; I am in favor of the exploited.” The new generation must remember this statement of Bangabandhu.

Thinking only about oneself will not do, one has to think about the society as well. First you have to be a good person, only then you can be a good worker. We have to work in coordination with the people, for ourselves and for the country at the same time. We have to make ourselves proficient with modern technology.