Without amending the organogram of the Dhaka University Central Students Union, DUCSU, the university authority has declared a date for the election. Vice Chancellor has already announced that the DUCSU elections will be held on Mar 11.
Students have been demanding this election for a long time but the declaration of date without amending the organogram has triggered unease.
There are instances in the past when the election was postponed even after the declaration of schedule. The student bodies wanted some posts to be abolished and some to be created along with the demands for voting centres outside halls and assurance of co-existence.
General secretary of Chhatra League, Saddam Hossain, says, “We welcome this initiative but there is no reason for complacency because there have been postponements in the past.”
We want to celebrate the historic moment with caution, he observed,
“We expect all student bodies to act with a sense of responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal is in anxiety over the declaration of date without amending the organogram.
Dhaka University Chhatra Dal president, Al Mehedi Talukder said we asked for peaceful co-existence before declaring the schedule.”
Schedule before amending the organogram is illogical, he deplored.
Saying that a conducive atmosphere has to be created, he confirmed participation in the elections.
DU Chhatra Union general secretary, Rajib Das, says, “Despite declaring DUCSU after 28 years, the fear remains; the schedule was declared four times before but elections were postponed in the end.”
Stressing on the voting centres, he said, “The placement of centres outside the hall has to be finalised at the syndicate.”
President of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Umme Habiba Benjir, told Bangla Tribune, “I thank the university authority for organising the elections and hope it will not be cancelled.”
We plan to form a panel with all progressive parties, she added. Convener of the Bangladesh students rights championing body Chhatra Adhikar Shongrokkhon, Hassan Al Mamun, says, fixing date is positive but first, the peaceful co-existence of all parties need to be ensured.”