University Reform Initiative (URI) has issued an eight-point proposal on student politics, including banning all kinds of party politics in residential and academic places on the Dhaka University campus and allowing all candidates to participate independently in the DUCSU or hall union elections.
DU students Adnan Mustari and Rafia Rehnuma presented the proposal at a press conference at Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA) office on Saturday.
Tamim Muntasir, Anwar Ibrahim Biplab, Zobair Hossain Shahid, and Redwanul Hasan Shanto, among other students, attended the press conference.
The recommendations are:
1. All types of party political programs will be prohibited in residential places as halls, hostels and academic places such as faculties, departments, and institutes of Dhaka University.
2. No person or group using any kind of political identity or affiliation shall attempt to exert influence in the mentioned places, seek any privilege or seek special consideration.
3. If any student is involved in the mentioned activities, the university administration will take disciplinary action against him, and the Syndicate will have to pass a law in this regard.
4. No punishment shall be given to anyone who expresses his views or sympathizes with any political ideology on a personal level without attempting to carry out any party political program in the said places.
5. Hall and central student council elections should be organized as soon as possible.
6. Regular undergraduate and postgraduate students of the university will be eligible to participate as candidates or voters in the elections. For undergraduate students, the difference between the admission session and the current academic year must not exceed six (6) sessions. For example, students of the 2023-24 session will be eligible to participate, as will all valid students from the 2017-18 session. Similarly, for postgraduate students, the difference between the admission session and the current session must not exceed two sessions.
7. All candidates must participate individually in Daksu or Hall Parliament elections and declare their manifestos separately. No one can conduct an election campaign as a panel.
8. An experienced panel consisting of students and teachers should prepare recommendations to amend the Constitution of Daksu to make it modern and up-to-date. The amendment of the constitution should be implemented based on the students' opinions.
However, on whether students of political ideology can stay, Adnan Mustari said: "For the healthy development of the country, it is necessary to remove all the filthiness of student politics and have a clear understanding with the education and politics. Everyone has freedom of expression. We are not in favour of depriving anyone of their constitutional rights."
"Students with political ideologies can stay in halls but can not conduct political activities there,” he added.
Regarding the student union, he said: "It is important to have a student union representing students in the university to highlight students' problems to the administration, conduct social and cultural activities, and create awareness on national and international issues."
"However, the culture of liberal politics engulfed these Oxford-model student councils. Students will be represented individually. Candidates will give their manifesto, and general students will elect their eligible representatives," he added.
