Abdullah Al Mamun, BU Correspondent

Barisal University has been officially declared the 'first university free from fascist forces'.

The decision was unanimously taken and passed at the 95th Syndicate meeting of the university held on Saturday

In July 2024, the country's student community called for an 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' to build a new Bangladesh free from discrimination and tyranny. In this historic mass uprising, the mercenary forces of the then dictatorial government were forced to surrender in the face of the pioneering and heroic role of the students of Barisal University.

On July 18, 2024, at the behest of the autocratic government, law enforcement and their party cadres carried out one of the most barbaric and brutal attacks in history on ordinary students of Barisal University on the campus and adjacent highways. On that bloody day, ordinary students of the university stood bravely in the face of bullets, teargas shells, and sound grenades.

In the face of the students' indomitable courage and fierce resistance, the tyrannical forces were forced to retreat that day. On the afternoon of July 18, the fascist forces of the dictator Hasina of Barisal University left the campus after apologizing to the protesting students. Through this, Barisal University became the first university in the country to be liberated from the fascist forces in the July Movement. This courageous resistance later gave the final shape to the movement to overthrow the dictatorship in Barisal.

University syndicate member and divisional commissioner Khalil Ahmed said, "We have passed it in the university syndicate and it will now be sent to the UGC for approval."

University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Md. Mamun Or Rashid said, "On July 18, Barishal University was unanimously approved as the first fascist-free campus at the syndicate meeting. We will then send it to the Chancellor."