Dhaka University (DU) authorities have sat with 15 of the campus’ active student organizations, to discuss the long-overdue Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections.
The meeting began around 11:30am, on Sunday, at the university’s Abdul Matin Chowdhury digital classroom.
In attendance are: DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof M Akhtaruzzaman, the pro-VCs (academic and administration), the treasurer, the proctor, assistant proctors, provosts, and hall wardens.
Leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, was first to arrive at the venue.
Among the Chhatra League leaders are: central unit’s President Rejwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon, General Secretary Golam Rabbani, DU unit President Sonjit Chandra Das, and General Secretary Md. Saddam Hussain.
BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal central President Rajib Ahsan, and DU unit General Secretary Bashar Siddique, also attended the meeting—along with two assistant proctors.
Leaders of left-leaning Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Chhatra Federation, and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front also attended the meeting.
Walid Ashraf, who went on a hunger strike for 15 consecutive days, demanding DUCSU polls last year, stood in front of the venue.
The closed-door meeting started with an introductory session by the teachers and leaders.
Later, the authorities will brief journalists of the outcomes of the meeting.
University authorities only invited the central and DU unit presidents and general secretaries to attend. Leaders were not allowed to bring their fellow students, or have show-downs, so that the environment would remain stable.
Although Chhatra League leaders arrived without fellow students, many followers had show-downs.
On September 12, the DU authorities issued a letter regarding the discussions, signed by DU Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani, to all central and DU unit presidents and student organization general secretaries.
The university authorities took the initiative a day after a contempt of court case was filed against the DU vice-chancellor, proctor and treasurer—following a writ petition filed by 15 former DU students.
On January 17, the High Court bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan asked the Dhaka University authorities to take steps to hold the DUCSU polls “at a suitable time, preferably within six months.”
The bench had observed that the legitimate expectations of the DU students, to cast their votes, had been violated by not holding DUCSU elections for over 28 years in a row—since 1990.
According to the Dhaka University Order 1973, the DUCSU election must be held every year.
The court also said the DU senate could not be formed without five elected representatives of the DUCSU.
The DU senate has existed without DUSCU representatives for too long, it added.
On September 4, lawyer Manzill Murshid sent a legal notice to the DU authorities on behalf of 15 former DU students, asking that steps be taken to hold the DUCSU election within seven days.
When the authorities did not take any steps in this regard, the lawyer filed a contempt of court petition on September 12, as the DU authorities' failure violated a High Court ruling that had ordered the polls be held.
