Oikkoboddho Chhatra Sangsad, a joint platform of five university student councils. has announced a series of campaigns in divisional cities across the country to ensure victory for the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum.
The platform comprised of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu), Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucs), Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) and Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU).
The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon in front of the Ducsu building through a written statement read out by Ducsu General Secretary SM Farhad. Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem delivered the concluding remarks, while leaders from the other student councils also spoke at the press conference.
Reading the statement, Farhad said the student community of Bangladesh has historically played a responsible and leading role at critical moments in the country’s history. Continuing that legacy, he said, the five student councils have jointly announced a series of public rallies in divisional cities in support of a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum under the banner of Oikkoboddho Chhatra Sangsad.
Through these rallies, the organizers aim to call on people from all walks of life to take a stand “in favor of ‘Yes’ in the referendum in a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive manner.”
According to the organizers, the purpose of the pro-“Yes” rallies is to explain the importance of the referendum to the public, put an end to politics “driven by fear and misinformation,” and build strong public awareness in favor of state reform.
Farhad also said: “A referendum is not merely a political process; it is a constitutional right through which people can directly express their opinion. However, this right becomes meaningful only when people are able to make decisions in an environment free from fear and with full awareness.”
The first program under the initiative will be a divisional public rally in support of ‘Yes’ on Thursday at 2pm at Court Point in Bandar Bazar, Sylhet.
Similar rallies will be organized gradually in all divisional cities across the country. The gatherings will be attended by elected student representatives, family members of the July martyrs and injured fighters, imams, temple priests, leaders of business associations, press clubs and Shilpakala Academies, sports organizers, labor representatives, and professionals including teachers and doctors.
