Only regular students can participate: VC

Students of Jagannath University’s evening programmes cannot qualify as voters or candidates for the university’s Central Students’ Union election, authorities have said.

“Only regular students [of honours and masters courses] of the university will cast their votes and contest in the polls,” JnU Vice Chancellor Mijanur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday, quoting law department’s Prof Sarker Ali Akkas, who was the head of the committee to formulate the constitution of the students’ union.

“The students of evening progrmmes of the university cannot participate in voting and competing in the polls,” he said.

“We will present the draft constitution in the next syndicate meeting of the university for approval. If the syndicate approves it, then it will be open for everyone,” the VC said, adding it can be modified in the syndicate meeting.

This correspondent spoke with two members of the committee. Preferring anonymity, one of the members said age restrictions will be imposed for the polls as well. “Only students who are aged 26 years or below can participate in the election,” he said.

Contacted, JnU Proctor Mostofa Kamal told The Daily Star, “The university’s first convocation will be held on January 11. Soon after the convocation, authorities will take steps for holding the polls.”

“The next syndicate meeting is likely to be held in November,” said JnU Registrar Md Ohiduzzaman.

On July 1, the university authorities formed a body led by Prof Sarker Ali Akkas to provide necessary recommendations for amendment of the university act, as there is no section or sub-section regarding student union polls in the JnU Act, 2005.

The committee was instructed to formulate the constitution within 45 days. It submitted their report to the JnU VC on September 22.

JnU officials said fourteen elections of the central students’ union were held for the then Jagannath College between 1954 to 1987.

Since the college was turned into a full-fledged university in 2005, no students’ union polls were held due to legal limitations, they said.