'Ducsu polls by March 31'

The election to the Dhaka University Central Student Union (Ducsu) will be held by March 31, DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman today said.

“We announced the date earlier and we didn’t stay aside from it. We all are working so that the election is held within the timeframe,” the VC told reporters after a meeting at his office this afternoon.

The DU VC held a meeting with Paribesh Parishad, which was formed in all residential halls to ensure peaceful atmosphere on the campus, for bringing necessary amendment to the electoral code of conduct ahead of the election.

The leaders of different student fronts’ DU units also joined the meeting.

Yesterday, Chief Returning Officer of the election Prof SM Mahfuz confirmed that the schedule for the Ducsu election is likely to be published at the end of next week or at the beginning of the week after next.

The VC said several recommendations for the Ducsu election came during the meeting and those will be placed in the next syndicate meeting for approval.

Bangladesh Chhatra League General Secretary Golam Rabbani, who was present at the meeting, told reporters that they have faith in the university authority in holding the election in a free and fair manner.

Besides, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Akram Hossain, who was also present at the meeting, called upon the authorities to set up polling booths at all academic buildings instead of halls for smooth voting.

The last election to the Ducsu was held 27 years ago. The long-standing demand suddenly saw a momentum in the past two months.

“We will try to hold Ducsu election in a free, fair and credible manner,” DU Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani yesterday told The Daily Star.

NON-STUDENTS ASKED TO LEAVE

Meanwhile, Dhaka University authorities have asked all non-students and outsiders to vacate its halls ahead of the election.

Authorities have hung notice at all the dormitories today after a meeting of provost standing committee, asking to comply immediately.

The students who already completed Masters’ final have been asked to hand their documents to respective authorities for leaving their seats, the notice read.

Besides, all the resident students have been asked to notify hall authorities if any non-student or outsider stays at the dormitories, according to the notice.

Action will be taken if any non-student or outsider denies to vacate the dormitories, it added.