DUCSU elections and contempt of court
The continued failure to hold elections to Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) remains a bad omen for national politics in Bangladesh. It is contradictory to, on one hand, claim to be committed to upholding the spirit of the liberation war and, on the other hand, to systematically obstruct the DUCSU election from being held. Those who are so avidly determined to hold free and fair national elections to ‘reinstate democracy,’ are silent when it comes to the issue of DUCSU elections. DUCSU’s constitution necessitates elections to be held every year, but the last DUCSU election was held around 28 years ago on 6 July 1990.
It is ironic that the Chhatra Sangram Parishad or Students Action Council had been at the forefront of the anti-autocracy movement against General Ershad throughout the eighties. The fall of Ershad paved the way for the country’s two major political parties, Awami League and BNP, to be democratically elected. In that sense, they are both beneficiaries of DUCSU. Even though it was clear that DUCSU elections would be a risk for the rulers during the autocratic rule , these elections were held during the rules of both Ziaur Rahman and Ershad. And history is witness that the DUCSU elections have played an effective role for democracy in the country.
In recent years, particularly after the caretaker government system was abolished and also after the one-sided election of 2014, politics has come to a standstill in Bangladesh. But even before this, the two major political parties, who benefitted from DUCSU elections, chose to remain silent on the DUCSU issue, though voluble on a host of other issues.
Under the present circumstances, the committees within the two major parties are formed at the behest of the party high commands. They have least interest in holding secret ballots for such elections. They refuse to risk any challenge to their leadership.
The politicians have turned away from DUCSU. Despite court orders, we do not see BNP making any active efforts for the DUCSU election to be held. Those who tag along with the two major political parties, are all silent when the issue of DUCSU arises. In response to a write petition filed by 25 students in 2012, the High Court ordered the DUCSU elections to be held within six months’ time. On 5 September, legal notice was sent to Dhaka University’s vice chancellor Akhtaruzzaman, proctor AKM Golam Rabbani and treasurer Kamal Uddin. If they do not take steps within seven days to arrange for the DUCSU elections to be held, they will be charged with contempt of court.
It was essential that this legal action be taken for the sake of DUCSU elections. It is hoped that the Dhaka University administration responds to the matter and avoids being charged with contempt of court. But the administration is delaying in responding to the court order which indicates the DUCSU election depends on the political policymakers. This is not acceptable. The political policymakers should extend their support to the Dhaka University authorities so that the DUCSU elections can be held in accordance to the orders from the court.