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Doubts over holding DUCSU polls


Published : 23 Jun 2020 10:51 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:12 AM

The incumbent committee of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) tenure has expired on June 22 after an extended tenure of 90 days but authority seems to be indifferent in holding a fresh poll.

The vice president of the organisation - Nurul Haque Nur has demanded continuing organisational activities led by the current elected executive body. In contrast, however, the general secretary Golam Rabbani and assistant general secretary Saddam Hossain said they would leave their posts.

Demanding extension of the incumbent committee, Nurul Haque Nur, who was elected from the quota reformists' platform, said, "We want extension of the current committee since we have many tasks left incomplete due to indefinite closure of university following the coronavirus pandemic."

Nur complained that he had requested the DU VC on June 14 about holding the polls but the VC and Ducsu President Prof Akhtaruzzaman did not respond. However, the general secretary Golam Rabbani and assistant general secretary (AGS) of the body, Md Saddam Hussain said holding Ducsu office after June 22 will be immoral and undemocratic.

Saddam said: “It is immoral and undemocratic to hold the offices violating the constitution. University students will not accept such undemocratic gesture as they practice democracy.”

Ducsu President and vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman said a dialogue of stakeholders including all political students’ wings need to be held to hold the next poll.

“The election will be held following the rules as per the constitution,” he said added.
He said this during the anniversary of the polls on March 11, one year of taking charge of Ducsu on March 23 and also now after exceeding more 90 days. However, the dialogue is yet to be held or initiated by the authority.

Meanwhile, dialogues were held in 2018 several times called, Paribesh Parishader Shova, to ensure sound environment for the polls inviting all political student wings except banned ones as the last polls held 28 years ago from then. DU VC wants to hold dialogue again although were polls held in latest time.

As per the Ducsu constitution, the President will fix and notify the date and time of holding election.
Asked, Prof Akhtaruzzaman said: “Here it is not possible to arrange the election announcing a date setting by the vice-chancellor’s own. This is a huge undertaking. Many stakeholder are involved. This will have to be discussed with them,”.

The elected office bearers of the union (Ducsu) shall hold office for 365 days. In case the election could not be held in time, the elected shall continue for a further period not exceeding 90 days or till holding the polls whichever is earlier. After which the union shall stand dissolved automatically, according to section 6(c) of Ducsu constitution.

After 28 years of inactiveness, the DUCSU election was finally held on March 11 last year, boycotted by major student’s bodies and allegedly marred by irregularities on the part of the university authorities and vote-rigging by the Bangladesh Chhatra League – the student wing of the ruling Awami League.

Chhatra League ended up gaining a majority with 23 posts out of 25.
Setting up in the session 1923-24, first Ducsu leader was nominated in 1924 and elected in 1953.