Tea party at DU!

It was around two in the morning.

The area was still abuzz with activities. Divided into groups, many were singing, chanting or just gossiping.

But they all had one thing in common -- all were drinking tea. After all the name of the party was “Tea Party after 8:00pm at TSC”.

It was held at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on the Dhaka University campus. Some of the students of the university arranged it as a protest against the administration's “decision” to close the tea stalls around the TSC area by 8:00pm. Though the symbolic protest started after midnight and continued till 3:00am, many current and former students started to gather there around 8:00pm.

“Dhaka University has always been the place for progressive cultural activities,” said a student of the law department. “The administration cannot bar this cultural practice by giving the excuse of security.”

Echoing him, a student of the music department, said, “We cannot allow this kind of restriction on free movement.”

When asked, a tea seller in the area said, “We are very happy that the students stood up for us.

On October 17, the DU authorities asked all the TSC-based socio-cultural organisations to finish their activities by 8:00pm. Amid a widespread criticism, the authorities withdrew its notice on October 23.

But after a few days, a proctorial team ordered the tea stalls in TSC area to close their businesses by 8:00pm, alleged many of the students.

Besides, on Sunday, Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani came to the area around 11:00pm and asked some of the resident students, who were spending time there, to chat inside their dormitories, they alleged.

Contacted, the proctor said the incident was nothing but a miscommunication between the students and the administration. “The administration did not give any notice about closing the tea stalls by 8:00pm.”

Also, students can stay in the area after 8:00pm for their various cultural activities, he added.