Allow journos, CCTV inside polling centres
Demand student orgs in recommendation for Ducsu electoral code of conduct; BCL doesn't want former leaders in campaigning
All students' organisations except for Bangladesh Chhatra League, a pro-Awami League student body, have demanded that the Dhaka University authorities allow former leaders of the organisations to take part in the electioneering in the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) polls.
They raised the demand in their recommendations for formulating electoral code of conduct. They also demanded unrestricted movement of journalists inside polling centres and CCTV cameras.
To formulate the code, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman on January 19 formed a seven-member committee, with Pro-VC (academic) Prof Nasreen Ahmed as convener.
On Thursday, the committee formulated a draft code and sent it to all active campus-based student organisations. It also sought their recommendations by Saturday for bringing amendments.
BCL leaders notified DU authorities about their recommendations verbally while others submitted theirs to the proctor's office in writing on Saturday.
Leaders of the recent quota reform movement, who expressed their desire to contest the Ducsu polls, also submitted their propositions.
Talking to The Daily Star, BCL DU unit general secretary Saddam Hussain said they have demanded that loudspeakers should be used only inside the auditorium and during rallies.
Besides, electioneering should be controlled centrally to maintain a congenial atmosphere on the campus, he added.
Asked about the demand of allowing former leaders to take part in the election campaign, he said students of the university will not allow any outsiders.
Recommendations of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal include bringing polling booths under CCTV surveillance, not arresting any candidates after announcing election schedule and unrestricted movement of journalists inside voting centres.
Chhatra Union placed similar demands. They also demanded setting the timeframe for electioneering from 10am to noon and imposing a ban on using walls for campaigning.
Chhatra Federation recommended that the authorities permit the hall union candidates to hold three projection meetings instead of one and the central union candidates hold five meetings instead of three.
They demanded that the authorities fix the maximum number of posters a candidate can paste on walls.
The proposals of Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, a platform that led the quota reform movement, include forming a five-member observer body comprising teachers to avert any untoward situation and allowing journalists to live broadcast from inside polling booths.
The first election to Ducsu in 28 years will be held on March 11. The voting is scheduled to begin at 8am and end at 2pm.