HC moved for Ducsu election

The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to hold Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) election within a stipulated period of time.

In the rule, the court also asked the respondents to show causes why “their failure or inaction in discharging their duties to hold DUCSU election for last 26 years should not be declared illegal”.

Dhaka University and its vice chancellor, registrar, proctor, treasurer and education secretary have been made respondents to the rule.  

The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by former DUCSU Vice President (VP) Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmad and two others seeking necessary order to this effect.

Citing from the petition, petitioners’ counsel Advocate Subrata Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the respondents are duty bound to hold DUCSU election every year under the relevant laws.

Their inaction in discharging their duties to hold the DUCSU election for the last 26 years is a violation of the express provisions of Articles 4 and 20 of the Dhaka University Order, 1973 (President’s Order No.11 of 1973) and the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 27 of the constitution, he said.          

The failure/inaction of the respondents in discharging their duties to hold the election of DUCSU for the last 26 years is arbitrary, malafide, and discriminatory as they failed to take into consideration that the students have been paying particular fees for DUCSU for 26 years without having any extra facilities, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury added.