Call to arrange referendum to over DUCSU polling booths set up
A controversy brewed over setting polling booths inside dormitories as tradition for the upcoming Dhaka University Center Student Union (DUCSU) polls.
Dhaka University Shikkharti Odhikar Mancho, a general student’s platform who raised first voice for DUCSU polls in 2012 on Friday urged the university authority to arrange a referendum to come in a decision in setting polling centres inside the halls or academic building.
The platform came up with the remarks in press conference held at university’s Madhur Canteen. Nur Bahadur, Moudud Misti, members of the 25-member platform also were present, among others
Dhaka University Shikkharti Odhikar Mancho was formed on February 2012 to break the deadlock on DUCSU election which is defunct for 28 years.
Advocate Manzil Murshid, lawyer of the DUCSU petitioners, said in the conference that the former Vice-Chancellors of the university didn’t take steps to hold DUCSU polls in 28 years to monopolise their power on the campus and to establish an autocratic administration.
Speakers also demanded curtailing the VC’s power and make the system of re-calling DUCSU leaders.
The platform convener Moudud Misti called upon general students to raise voice in support of four point demands including balance the power of DUCSU president (DU VC), elect president from students, responsibility of elected representative to general students and arrange referendum to fix polling booths set up.
Regarding DUCSU president, they said it should not be right that DU VC would be president of DUCSU because as per the DUCSU constitutions if its president wants he or she can dissolve DUCSU or postpone its polls any time.
It’s a barrier to freedom of speech. As the VC has been appointed as wish of a political party, so he or she will suppress decision on students in favour of that political party, they added.
They also mentioned that in court the order, it was said if the university administration seemed that the environment of the university is not congenial to hold DUCSU polls then they want additional help from metropolitan police.
It is to be mentioned that, 25 former DU students under the platform filed a writ petition in March 2012 seeking a court order to compel the authorities concerned to arrange the DUCSU. After the final hearing of the writ on January 17, 2018 the High Court asked the DU authorities to take necessary steps to hold the elections at a suitable time, preferably within six months.
On September 03, 2018 a contempt notice has also been served to the vice-chancellor, proctor and treasurer of DU for not taking any steps to hold DUCSU elections despite the High Court directives.
Later, on September 16, 2018 the authority sat with all the active student organizations leaders to exchange their views and after the meeting, the VC said that the administration is working to hold the polls by March 2019.
