Ducsu finally gets going

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union yesterday saw its first executive meeting in nearly three decades with different student organisations demanding repolling to the prestigious platform.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman presided over the meeting where a proposal to give lifetime membership to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was discussed.

However, Ducsu Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur opposed the proposal, made by Shahrima Tanjina Arni, international affairs secretary of the Ducsu.

The VC, also the ex officio president of the Ducsu, said the PM would be conferred with the honour as the election was held because of her sincere will.

Most of the members agreed to it.

But disagreeing with the proposal, Nur said, “A large number of students alleged that rigging took place during the election. A highly respected person like the prime minister should not be included in the Ducsu which was formed through a questionable election.”

The meeting began at 11:30am at the hall room on the first floor of Ducsu Bhaban and ended around 1:30pm.

While briefing reporters after the meeting, the VC said the proposal of giving lifetime membership to Sheikh Hasina was raised in the meeting and everyone agreed to it.

“We will examine the legal procedures regarding the decision and undertake the noble step officially in the next meeting in line with the Ducsu constitution,” he added.

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation form a human chain demanding reelection of Ducsu. Photo: Palash Khan

Ducsu General Secretary Golam Rabbani said all the members agreed to the decision except for Nur. So the point he raised is not acceptable in democratic system.

“The decision has already been taken and it's a solved issue,” he said.

Nur said he also urged the VC to stop the “guest room” and “gono room” culture in the dormitories and allot seats based on the students' merit.

At the meeting, the Ducsu leaders proposed a ban on public transport on the DU campus. They also proposed introducing separate lanes for rickshaw and cycle and a special rickshaw service in the university area.

While the meeting was taking place, several activists of Chhatra Federation were seen staging a demonstration to press home their demand for re-election. They also formed a human chain in front of the Ducsu building.

Around 11:00am, members of different left-leaning student organisations gathered at the Raju Sculpture and showed symbolic “red cards” to the entire electoral process of Ducsu saying it was marred by anomalies.

Meanwhile, several hundred activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal marched on the campus wearing black badges demanding immediate reschedule of the Ducsu polls scrapping the results of the March 11 polls.

The 28-year-long wait to Ducsu election ended in boycott by all the major panels over allegations of irregularities and vote rigging.