Mohammad Riaz, BAU:None of the top 10 students from each academic year across the six faculties of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) is currently involved in student politics. Only a small number of these high-performing students are involved in non-political extracurricular organisations.

Students who stay away from student politics said involvement in political activities often requires them to participate regularly in processions, rallies and meetings. They also have to post on social media tagging senior political leaders or campus big brothers and regularly like, comment on and share their posts.

According to the students, such activities consume a significant amount of their time and can negatively affect their academic performance.

They also said prolonged involvement in political activities could distract students from their studies, making it difficult for them to maintain concentration on academic work.

However, some students who remain detached from student politics during their undergraduate studies are later seen joining Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, particularly at the postgraduate level, reportedly with expectations of receiving various university-related opportunities and eventually securing academic positions.

There are also allegations that some of these students have little or no understanding of nationalist ideology.

Regarding the issue, BAU Chhatra Dal Member Secretary Md Shafiqul Islam said Chhatra Dal is an organisation for meritorious students. Talented and leadership-oriented students are needed to run and develop the country. However, there is no place for opportunists in the Chhatra Dal committee. If allegations that a member lacks nationalist ideology are proven, that person will be expelled from the organisation. At present, we are inducting members only after proper scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Professor Dr Wakilur Rahman, a member of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC), expressed concern over students' limited participation in extracurricular activities.

He said staying away from extracurricular activities could create shortcomings in students' leadership, communication and critical-thinking skills, as well as their creativity, programme-management abilities, teamwork and capacity to adapt to changing environments. Having only a university degree is no longer enough to succeed in the job market.

Prof Dr. Wakilur Rahman also expressed concern that if such students later join universities as teachers, institutions may not receive the expected performance from them because of deficiencies in leadership, communication and other professional skills developed through extracurricular engagement.