Amidst continuous protests for a DUCSU re-election, its newly elected leader Nurul Huq Nur came up with a rather unclear standpoint when he said he stands by the general students but will assume the office of vice-president.
“There’s no issue of resigning of stepping down. I will continue the protest while being in the office. We have made it clear how the polls were marred by rigging and irregularities. I am with the students who want fresh voting,” he told Bangla Tribune on Sunday (Mar 17).
His telephone conversation followed a press conference where he demanded fresh polls, just a day after meeting the prime minister and seeking her cooperation for a functional DUCSU.
Asked whether he finds his stance contradictory, Nur replied, “My standpoint is clear. Despite the widespread rigging, we won the posts of vice-president and social service secretary. So, I demanded re-election to other posts, but the students want fresh vote for all posts. I stand by them.
Evading a direct answer on whether an elected leader can demand re-vote, he said, “I am yet to take office as well as yet to officially declare whether I will or not.”
On his apparent hesitation to make a call, Nur’s said, “An agitation is continuing and the university administration does not seem to be rigid or not appeared to be in the process for the inauguration of the DUCSU leaders.”
He declined to answer what would be his next step if the university schedules the inauguration describing it as a ‘hypothetical question’.
“That, can be said when the university authorities announce a date of inauguration. How can I say it now?” he asked this correspondent.
Earlier in the day, at a press conference in Madhur canteen with representatives of most of the student panels, Nur defended not speaking about rigging during the DUCSU leaders meeting with the prime minister by saying he “lost concentration” by seeing many Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders at the Ganabhaban.
During Saturday’s meeting with Hasina, Nur sought her all-out cooperation for a functional DUCSU and praised the premier for her efforts to make Bangladesh “a role model” of development in the world.
Describing Hasina as mother-like, he pledged to cooperate with her government for national prosperity.
However, at the media call in campus on Sunday, he once again made the demand for fresh polls to DUCSU.
Responding to queries on the statements he made at the Ganabhaban, Nur said he could not speak as he felt uncomfortable and lost concentration after seeing many BCL leaders there.