DU to discuss DUCSU election with student bodies

Dhaka University authorities would consult with all student organisations on Sunday to explore, as they say, possibility of holding the election to Dhaka University Central Student Union (DUCSU).

Such a meeting of ‘the council to ensure educational atmosphere on the campus’, otherwise known as Paribesh Parishad, is being held after 16 years, according to DU vice chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman.

The dialogue will be held at the lounge beside the vice-chancellor office, university authorities said.

They also sent letters inviting presidents and general secretaries of central and DU units of the student bodies.

However, the DU initiative followed a contempt of court petition filed against the DU vice chancellor, the proctor and the treasurer on Tuesday accusing them of delaying the DUCSU polls.

A bench of the High Court on 17 January directed the DU authorities to hold the DUCSU elections in six months.

While some quarters hailed the move and saw it positively, some are apprehensive of sincerity of the DU authorities on holding the long overdue DUCSU elections.

Abu Raihan Khan, convener of a platform which is demonstrating for DUCSU polls for a long time, hailed the move but said, the university authorities were forced to take the step following the court order.

If they were sincere, they would have taken preparations much earlier for holding the DUCSU election, he added.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatradal (JCD), student wing of opposition BNP, is also invited to the meeting.

The party expressed optimism over the ‘Paribesh Parishad’ meeting but said its leaders are still undecided over attending the dialogue in view of campus situation which they feel not convenient.

JCD activists were stopped from entering the campus for years. Now the authorities invited us but can they give us any guarantee that we would not be attacked by Chhatra League activists?” asked Abdus Sattar, office secretary of JCD central committee.

White Panel, a platform of pro-BNP teachers of DU, also expressed concern over security of the JCD leaders if they attend the meeting.

The teachers led by the convener of White Panel ABM Obaedul Islam met DU VC on Saturday afternoon and urged him to ensure safety of the JCD leaders if they attend the meeting.

DU proctor Golam Rabbani ruled out such security concern saying, We have invited them and will take care of everyone’s security.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union general secretary Liton Nandi cautiously expressed optimism and said, “At least they have taken a visible move for holding DUCSU election.”

He also demanded that the authorities must ensure co-existence of all political parties on the campus.

Ruling party’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League’s DU unit general secretary Saddam Hossain said they will wholeheartedly cooperate with DU authorities and other political parties for holding DUCSU election.

He also ruled out the apprehension of JCD that they might be attacked.

We urge the authorities to announce a roadmap and hold the election as soon as possible,” Saddam added.

Asked about alleged dilly-dally in announcing DUCSU polls schedule vice chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman  claimed that they started preparations as earlier as February and directed the hall authorities to prepare voters lists.

“We are hopeful that the draft voterslists would be prepared by the end of October. We will hold the elections as soon as possible.” added DU VC.

DUCSU, considered the most prestigious elected student union in the country, had once contributed to creating national political leaders and critical national movements.

The DUCSU election is supposed to be held every year, but the last time DUCSU election was held in 1990.