'DU authorities working in favour of BCL'

Pragatisheel Chhatra Jote, an alliance of left-leaning student organisations, continued their protest on Dhaka University (DU) campus yesterday demanding that the authorities set up the polling centres at academic buildings in the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election, to be held on March 11.

The platform held a press conference in this regard at Modhur Canteen on DU campus.

They alleged that the authorities are working in favour of Bangladesh Chhatra League and ignoring other student organisations' demand of setting up polling stations outside the halls.

They also announced a protest rally on Sunday to press home their demands, terming the DU syndicate's decision as “undemocratic”.

While reading out the written statement, coordinator of the platform Rashed Sahariar said, “The way university syndicate ignored some student organisations' demands is totally undemocratic. Instead of giving the opportunity to contest the polls to those who pay Ducsu and hall union fees, the age limit [for candidacy] was set to 30 undemocratically in the amended charter.”

“Though most of the student organisations had demanded setting up polling centres outside the dormitories, the university authorities came up with the decision prioritising Chhatra League's demand,” he added.

The platform also claimed that Chhatra League has “control over” the halls, which is the main barrier to holding a free and fair election.

Chhatra Union central president GM Zilani Shuvo, general secretary Liton Nandi; Chhtra Front's central president Imran Habib, general secretary Nasiruddin Prince; Chhatra Federation central president Golam Mustafa also attended the press conference, among others.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union also brought out a separate rally on campus, demanding setting up polling stations outside the halls.

Ducsu was formed in 1922, a year after the DU was founded.  The aim of the platform is to promote cultural activities at the university and foster a spirit of cooperation among the students of different dormitories. The last elections to Ducsu and hall unions were held in 1990.