JCD's VP candidate Abidul says DUCSU election date non-negotiable

He questions the role of lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir in the student council election

Abidul Islam Khan, the VP candidate from the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel, has said the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election "must be held on Sept 9”.

Following a procession against the suspension of the DUCSU polls that ended near the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture at Dhaka University on Monday, he said: "No one has the power to obstruct the DUCSU election. If this administration, standing on so much blood, fails to hold it, we will never accept it.

"We have seen that the GS candidate for the Islamic Chhatra Shibir panel, SM Farhad, was a position holder in the Chhatra League. He did not even resign after Aug 5 last year. A student from a left-leaning panel initiated a petition against him in the High Court."

"In that regard, my question to the election commission is, why did you leave so many loopholes while trying to hold such an election?" he added.

Questioning the administration's neutrality, Abidul asked: "Does this university not have lawyers? Why is Shishir Manir being kept here?”

He cautioned the university administration against making a mockery of the election process, urging it to proceed with care and reminding officials that their duty was not to serve any political party.

Earlier, the High Court suspended the DUCSU polls for two months following a hearing on a writ petition against Farhad lodged by BM Fahmida Alam, a candidate for secretary of Liberation War and democratic movement affairs from the left-supported “Aparajeyo 71, Adommo 24” panel.

The court also directed the university’s election tribunal to complete within 15 days its inquiry into allegations against Farhad.

Students reacted strongly after the High Court order, prompting the Dhaka University authorities to go to the chamber judge of the Appellate Division.

The chamber justice later suspended the High Court's order, clearing the way for the election.

The petition raised questions over how Farhad, who was part of the “Chhatra League Committee” until Aug 5 last year, could later contest as a candidate of the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote.