Dhaka University working to hold DUCSU election by March, 2019: VC

The authorities are working to hold elections to Dhaka University Central Student Union or DUCSU by March next year after nnearly three decades, its vice-chancellor has said.

Md Akhtaruzzaman briefed the media after a meeting with the leaders of the ‘active’ student organisations on the elections to DUCSU and its hall units on Sunday.

The provost committee, disciplinary council, and syndicate have targeted March, 2019 considering the scope of work for the elections, Akhtaruzzaman said.

The work to update the voter list was under way, the VC added and expressed hope that a draft list would be finalised in October.

“Making a voter list is a complex job. We will make considerable progress if we can complete it,” he said.

The leftist student organisations, who have long been vocal for the DUCSU polls, now demand that the elections be held this year.

The ruling Awami League’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League or BCL and its rival the BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal or JCD are open to the idea of the elections being held at ‘a reasonable time’.

The JCD, however, also demands that all the student organisations be given equal opportunities to carry out on-campus activities before the elections.

The authorities initiated the meeting on Thursday after a case was started last Thursday over defiance of the High Court orders to hold the elections.

Central Chhatra League President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and General Secretary Golam Rabbani and Dhaka University chapter President Sanjit Chandra Das and General Secretary Hossein Saddam attended the meeting for around four hours from 11:30am.

Central Chhatra Dal President Rajeeb Ahsan and Dhaka University unit General Secretary Bashar Siddique joined them at the Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom next to the VC’s office a few minutes later.

Representatives from the three largest leftist student organisations – the Chhatra Union, Chhatra Foundation and Chhatra Front – also attended the meeting.

VC Akhtaruzzaman himself led the administration’s delegation, which also included Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Nasreen Ahmad, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Muhammad Samad, Treasurer Kamal Uddin, and Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani.

Activist from 13 ‘active’ student organisations were invited to the event, an assistant proctor told bdnews24.com.

DUCSU was formed a year after Dhaka University was established in 1921. DUCSU and other Dhaka University student leaders were at the forefront of the 1952 Language Movement, the Education Movement, the 1969 uprising, and the independence struggle.

Since independence, Dhaka University students have also played the key role in the protests for democracy and against tyranny.

Though DUCSU elections are to be held every year, there have only been six since independence. The last election was held on Jun 6, 1990. Though efforts were made several times, no election has been organised since then.

On Jan 17 this year, the High Court settled a six-year-old rule on the issue, ordering DUCSU elections to be held within six months.

Petitioners’ lawyer Manzill Murshid sent a legal notice to the Dhaka University administration on Sept 4 after no visible progress on the issue was made after seven months.

Getting no response, he brought allegations of negligence against the university’s vice-chancellor and administration to the High Court on Wednesday.

COEXISTENCE

The authorities will have more discussions with the students and sit with the provost committee to review these, VC Akhtaruzzaman said.

On being asked about the JCD demand for coexistence, he said the provosts will look into the issue.

“The Madhu’s Canteen-based practice of politics is open for all. The administration does not bar any active student organisation from continuing their activities there,” he said.

The control of the university and its halls shifts along with the change in government. Pro-government organisations BCL and JCD took control when their party came to power.

In recent years, there were no visible activities of JCD on the campus, but on the day of discussion on DUCSU elections, the atmosphere in the university was peaceful.

BCL President Shovon and General Secretary Rabbani came out with JCD President Rajeeb and its DU unit General Secretary Siddique after the meeting.

Rabbani laid a hand on Rajeeb’s shoulder as they walked towards journalists.

“We are ready for the election whenever the administration thinks it is suitable,” Rabbani said.

Asked about the JCD demand for coexistence, he said BCL also feels the need for peaceful coexistence.

“But outsiders and those who try to hamper order on the campus have no right to be here,” he added.

JCD President Rajeeb said the DUCSU polls can be held only if it could be ensured that all the organisations could coexist on the campus.

Proctor Rabbani and BCL leader Rabbani led the two JCD leaders to a car after Rajeeb finished his statement.

The left student organisations also emphasised coexistence, but added they do not want to accept ‘uncertainty over a reasonable time’.

“DUCSU elections should not depend on the general elections,” Bangladesh Chhatra Union General Secretary Liton Nandi said. The organisation demanded the elections be held within December.

Imran Habib Rumon, the president of a faction of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said they want the elections to be organised by November.

“We should not let this move fizzle out in the complications over the general elections,” he added.