ZCZC
BSS-39
DUCSU-ELECTION
DU getting ready to hold DUCSU polls by March
By Md. Mahdi Al Muhtasim Nibir
DHAKA, Jan 21, 2019 (BSS) – All-out preparations are underway to hold long overdue Dhaka University Central Student’s Union (DUCSU) and hall union polls by March after three decades following a Supreme Court order to hold the election.
DUCSU, which was once considered as a breeding ground of politics, was last held on June 6, 1990.
On January 6, 2019, the Supreme Court gave the order clearing way for holding the polls.
“We are working to hold the DUCSU and hall union polls by March 31 as per our prior announcement. We never think of deferring the polls in April,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman told reporters today about the preparation of the polls.
As part of the preparations, the university authorities have appointed chief returning officer and returning officers in the last few weeks.
DUCSU constitution amendment committee, code of conduct formulation committee and advisory committee were formed while the authority also held meetings with students’ organisations, journalists and socio-cultural bodies of the university.
Schedule for the much-awaited polls is likely to be published within February as the university authorities are approaching to break the stalemate of not holding the election.
“We can announce the schedule one month before the poll after amending DUCSU constitution, formulating electoral code of conduct and publishing final voter list,” Professor SM Mahfuzur Rahman, chief returning officer of DUCSU polls, told BSS.
The university also took measures to create a congenial atmosphere on the campus to hold a free, fair, neutral and acceptable election.
The authorities also issued a notice on Sunday asking non-students and outsiders to vacate the dormitories ahead of the election. University students who completed their post-graduation and staying at the dormitories were asked to complete necessary formalities to vacate their seats.
A meeting of Paribesh Parishad, a council comprising the university authorities and the representatives of students’ organizations, was held today to dwell on the amendment DUCSU constitution and the code of conduct for the polls.
Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of ruling Awami League, expressed their faith in the university authority in holding the election in a free and fair manner within March and assured political co-existence on the campus.
Besides, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), pro-BNP students’ body and the left-leaning students’ organisations including Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front called upon the authorities to set up polling booths at all academic buildings instead of halls for smooth voting.
Central General Secretary of JCD Akramul Hasan said, “We hope that we will be able to conduct our political activities on the campus including historic Madhur Canteen from tomorrow as Chhatra League leaders invited us to have tea at Madhur Canteen. We asked the university authority to set up polling booths in academic buildings instead of dormitories and to set up CCTV cameras in these areas to avoid vote-rigging.”
BCL general secretary Golam Rabbani said, “JCD left campus for their internal conflict. They will be welcomed on campus and their legal students can stay in the halls if they avoid their previous ill activities. They also can stay in the halls by showing their ID card to the hall administration”.
BSS/Spl/MMN/KU/2016 HRS