Postpone Ducsu polls for three months: JCD

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), a pro-BNP student organisation, yesterday brought out a procession on the Dhaka University campus after about nine years, ahead of the March 11 Ducsu election.

JCD stopped organising events on the campus after January 18, 2010, following a clash with pro-Awami League student body Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), and later fearing arrest and harassment.

JCD also submitted a memorandum to Vice Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, demanding a safe environment for all student organisations and called upon the authorities to postpone the Ducsu election for three months in this regard.

Afterwards, over a hundred leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, led by its president Rajib Ahsan, brought out a procession from the VC's office to TSC.

Rajib said a safe environment is needed for campaigning on the campus, ahead of the polls. “We need at least three-month time before the election so that our activists can campaign safely and properly,” he added.

JCD's other demands include creating a peaceful and congenial atmosphere for all student organisations and setting up polling centres in academic buildings instead of dormitories. They also asked the university authorities to ensure security of candidates during campaigning.

Asked, the VC said Chhatra Dal submitted their demands and he told them that Ducsu polls will be held according to its constitution and electoral code of conduct.

At a separate programme yesterday, Progressive Students' Alliance demanded setting up polling stations outside dormitories and ensuring a safe environment for the long-awaited polls.

Meanwhile, top leadership of BCL held a meeting with some central leaders of ruling Awami League last night at AL head office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

After the meeting, BCL general secretary Golam Rabbani told The Daily Star that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to know about the upcoming Ducsu polls and related issues. He said they have also informed the central leaders about their preparations.

“We told them [central leaders] that we have faith in our 'Netri' [Sheikh Hasina] and we will accept whoever she nominates as VP and GS,” Rabbani said.

AL Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Organising Secretary Bahauddin Nasim were also present at the meeting.