The long-awaited Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) and the hall union election which remained defunct over 28 years since 1991, have been scheduled for March 11.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, as the Ducsu president as per Section 8 (e) of the Ducsu constitution, finalized the date during a meeting on Wednesday, according to a press statement.
The polling will take place from 8am to 2pm, the statement said.
Earlier in the day, several meetings regarding the election schedule took place between the hall provosts and the Ducsu advisory council, chaired by the VC, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
At the end of the meetings, the vice-chancellor announced the poll schedule.
On Saturday, the university authority appointed five returning officers and formed a seven member committee for the electoral code of conduct formulation led by DU Pro-VC (Academic) Prof Nasreen Ahmad.
Earlier on Thursday, the university authority appointed international business department Prof SM Mahfuzur Rahman as chief returning officer and formed a 15-member advisory council as the university geared up for the poll.
Confirming the date Prof SM Mahfuzur Rahman said they are preparing a complete schedule for the polls, which would be announced as soon as possible.
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He also said that the processes of the Ducsu constitution amendment, electoral code of conduct formulation and finalizing the voter list were going in full swing.
The university authority had already held several meetings with active student organizations on the campus to exchange view regarding the amendment of Ducsu constitution and formulation of electoral code of conduct.
The High Court order
On September 12, fifteen former DU students filed a contempt petition against DU VC Akhtaruzzaman, Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani and Treasurer Kamal Uddin for violating a High Court order asking them to hold the Ducsu polls.
On September 15, after meeting with student organizations DU VC Akhtaruzzaman at a briefing said that the Ducsu polls might be held by March 2019 and expressed hope that draft electoral roll for the polls would be prepared by October 2018.
On January 6, the Supreme Court cleared the way for holding the Ducsu polls by annulling its earlier order that stayed a High Court order asking the DU authorities to take necessary steps within the next six months to hold the election.