Formal proposal from DU committee on Jan 17

A Dhaka University (DU) committee -- to provide recommendations for an amendment, if necessary, to the constitution of DU's Central Students' Union (Ducsu) -- will provide a formal proposal to the DU authorities on January 17.

After evaluating different aspects of the proposal, DU authorities through a syndicate meeting will take the ultimate decision to amend the constitution. Authorities hope to hold the Ducsu election by March 31 this year, said Dr Mizanur Rahman, convener of the committee.

“Several good suggestions have been made from the student organisations today (Monday) to amend the constitution as the election is going to be held after a gap of 28 years,” said Dr Rahman, professor at the Law Department of DU.

The last Ducsu election was held in 1990 and a constitutional amendment was brought in 1998. However, the Supreme Court (SC) order delivered on January 6, 2019 has made it mandatory to hold an election.

On September 15 last year, after a meeting with representatives of student organisations, DU Vice Chancellor MD Akhtaruzzaman said the Ducsu polls might be held by March 2019.

Meanwhile, the DU authorities sent an invitation to TSC-based social and cultural organisations to discuss in this regard on January 17.

Leaders of student organisations spoke to The Daily Star about their proposals.

Rajib Das, general secretary of Chhatra Union's DU unit, said the DU VC, as a nominated president of Ducsu, has been given power to dissolve the executive body at any time as per article 5(a) of the constitution. No court verdict will be implemented over the decision of VC regarding the election results; such rules are curbing democratic values.

“We have proposed curtailing the VC's power to ensure a balance among other post holders, including vice president and hall union leaders,” he said.

Leaders from other organisations, including Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), also suggested establishing a balance of power among all posts, sources from the respective organisations confirmed.

Chhatra Union and JCD also proposed installing separate polling stations for residential and non-residential students to ensure their right to vote.

JCD's DU unit president Al Mehedi Talukder said he had proposed to contain an article ensuring presence of all organisations on campus, prior to the election.

JCD also proposed to install closed circuit cameras on campus to ensure security of its activists.

“If our activists are arrested during campaigning, it will be difficult to participate in the election. We demand that law enforcers play an unbiased role,” said Mehedi.

Bangladesh Student Federation's (BSF) DU unit President Umme Habiba Benjir also demanded a level playing field.

Awami League-backed BCL proposed ensuring participation of regular students in Ducsu up to master's and imposing a ban on politics of any organisation involved in serving the interests of war criminals, said Saddam Hossain, general secretary of BCL's DU unit. 

He also proposed to create a new post titled “Liberation War Affairs Secretary” in Ducsu and ensure women's empowerment in the executive body.

Ducsu was dissolved in 1998.  Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Amanullah Aman and Khairul Kabir Khokan panel won the last election and continued to be leaders of the student body until its dissolution. Later, several attempts were made to hold the Ducsu election but DU blamed probable political unrest on the campus for holding the election.