Ducsu Election: All eyes on DU syndicate meeting

All eyes will be on the meeting of Dhaka University (DU) syndicate, to be held today, to approve the amendments to existing constitution and formulate electoral code of conduct for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election.

Members of the syndicate, the highest governing body of the university, will bring necessary changes after scrutinising the recommendations by a DU committee.

On January 6, the DU authorities formed a five-member committee headed by Prof Mizanur Rahman to bring necessary amendments to the existing charter of Ducsu.

The authorities also held a meeting with all the active student organisations and asked for their recommendations in writing.

In their recommendations, leaders of several student organisations including Chhatra League general secretary Golam Rabbani sought changes to candidacy requirements for the election, allowing participation of students from MPhil, PhD and evening courses.

Some others, however, demanded continuation of the existing provision that permits only “regular students” to be candidates or voters.

Amid the dispute, uncertainty prevails over the issue – whether the syndicate would bring changes in the constitution to allow MPhil and PhD students to participate or keep the existing provisions for candidacy.

However, head of the DU committee, Prof Mizanur Rahman, earlier said they had not recommended any “fundamental changes”.

Wishing anonymity, a syndicate member told The Daily Star that the syndicate would “discuss” the inclusion of PhD and MPhil students to the voter list along with some other issues.

Asked whether it would relax the candidacy criteria, the member said the syndicate will take decisions after considering the recommendations as well as pros and cons associated with them.

Meanwhile, left leaning student organisations Chhatra Union and Chhatra Federation, in separate programmes yesterday, demanded setting up polling centres for the long-awaited Ducsu polls outside the halls.

At a press conference held at Modhu's Canteen on DU campus, Jahid Sujon, central general secretary of Chhatra Federation, alleged that resident students were forced to attend BCL programmes as the student body controlled seat allotment in the halls.

After 28 years, Ducsu election is scheduled to be held on March 11. The voting is set to begin at 8am and end at 2pm.