No initiative yet to hold Cucsu election
The Chittagong University authorities are yet to take any step to hold CU Central Students Union (Cucsu) election, taking no heed of the student organisations' demand.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh Chhatra Union formed a human chain at the university's Central Shaheed Minar, demanding that Cucsu election be held immediately.
Earlier on January 14, a faction of the CU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) did the same on the campus. They gave the university authorities a one-month ultimatum to meet the demand.
Elections to the student unions are a much-talked-about issue at different public universities in the country now-a-days.
When Ducsu election is scheduled to be held on March 11, the CU authorities are trying to nullify the valid demands of the student organisations with the excuse of violence on the campus, alleged student leaders.
The university authorities wanted the student organisations to sign on paper that they would not carry out violence centring the election. The student bodies termed the decision “unrealistic and funny”.
CU Chhatra Union President Drishon Pradip Chakma said they are ready to sign. “If anyone analyses the previous violent incidents on the campus, they will find that pro-ruling party student bodies are responsible for those,” he alleged.
“The authorities do not want Cucsu as operative,” he said, adding, “They fear that they would not be able to impose their whimsical decisions on students with an elected student body being effective.”
Echoing the same, CU Chhatra Front former president Fazla Rabbi said the authorities have to create an atmosphere for the Cucsu election. If they fear violence, they will have to enforce all-out security measures, he added.
Shahidul Islam, general secretary of CU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal, said they also want Cucsu election. In this regard, he demanded a change in the present university administration, terming it "biased".
About the signing, he said, “If the authorities provide security to protect our activists from BCL goons, we are ready to sign.”
Fazle Rabbi Sujon, former general secretary of CU unit of BCL, said due to absence of Cucsu representatives in the Senate, the authorities deprive students of their basic rights. It is high time for holding Cucsu election, he added.
Contacted, Mainul Islam, a former professor of CU economics department, said it is very disappointing that Cucsu election has not taken place for 29 years.
Students' representation has to be ensured in decision-making process, he said, emphasising that the Cucsu election should be held on a regular basis.
CU Vice Chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury said they are thinking about Cucsu election. He did not elaborate further.
The Cucsu election was held only six times since the university's inception in 1966.
The university authorities suspended the election in 1990 after Sarbodolio Chhatra Oikya leader Farukuzzaman was killed in a clash with Islami Chhatra Shibir. Since then, the Cucsu has remained inoperative.
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