In an unconventional protest, students at Dhaka University decided to grab attention with music. A viral video circulating on social media shows a large group of students gathered outside a university building, using loudspeakers to play music as a form of protest. The clip features students dancing and cheering next to a rickshaw fitted with a large speaker. As the video begins, Sapna Choudhary’s popular Haryanvi song Teri Aakhya Ka Yo Kajal fills the air, with the students enthusiastically joining in the celebration.
The students’ choice of song and method of protest quickly caught the attention of online viewers. The protest was sparked by complaints from female students residing in the university’s girls’ hostel regarding ongoing “noise pollution” near their building.
According to social media posts, the students had raised concerns with the Vice Chancellor (VC) but felt that their grievances were not taken seriously. In response, they decided to amplify the situation by blasting loud music right outside the VC’s office as a symbol of their frustration.
The post circulating on social media claimed, “Dhaka University VC allegedly didn’t take action vs noise pollution near female hall, so female students put loudspeakers in front of VC house.”
A New Kind of Protest
The video has since gone viral, with viewers impressed by the students’ creative approach to highlighting the issue. Many were surprised by the choice of Haryanvi music, with one Indian user commenting, “Bangladeshi students playing Haryanvi songs to protest wasn’t on my bingo card.” Others praised the protest, with one writing, “This is the smartest way of protest,” while another user quipped, “Makes complete sense considering they were trying to create the same levels of noise pollution.”
This protest comes amid growing student activism in Bangladesh. Dhaka University has recently been a hotspot for significant protests, including those against a High Court decision to reinstate a quota system for freedom fighters in government jobs.
As the protest unfolded, the students’ unique use of music and dance to make their point was certainly a surprising and memorable way to challenge the administration.
