DU human chain seeks polls deferment

A group of students and teachers of Dhaka University yesterday formed a human chain on the campus demanding deferment of the Dhaka north and south city corporation polls scheduled for January 30, as its coincides with Saraswati Puja celebrations across the country.

Under the banner of “Sacheton Shikkhak Shikkharthibrinda”, around 300 students organised the programme at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture around 11:30am.

Speaking at the programme, DU Senate member Prof Asim Sarkar said, “Saraswati Puja has turned into a festival to people of all religions and castes. But it is unfortunate for us that the polling date has been fixed on the same day.”

“We cannot change the date of Puja like Muslims cannot change the date of Eid. It has to be performed at a specific time [Panchami Tithi]. It is our right, so the election date must be changed. We want to cast our vote and perform our puja too,” Chairperson of Sanskrit department Namita Mandal said. Addressing the election commission, former provost of Jagannath hall Neem Chandra Bhowmik said, “Uphold the non-communal spirit of Liberation War by changing the polling date. If you do not do so, we will think that you do not want to acknowledge our constitutional right to vote.”

Speakers placed a two-point demand including rescheduling the election date and taking institutional steps -- introducing legislation or including clause to the electoral code -- to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

A delegation also submitted a memorandum to the election commission to press home their demands.

Earlier on January 11, Dhaka University Central Student’s Union (Ducsu) also demanded rescheduling of the city election dates.