VICE-CHANCELLOR of Dhaka University (DU) Professor Akhtaruzzaman on Wednesday published the long awaited database of hall-based students ahead of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls which remained dysfunctional for the last 28 years. The database consists of 38,493 students from 18 dormitories. There are 23, 984 men and 14,509 women on the list. The DU website referred to the database as a draft voter list for DUCSU election.
Any objection about the list will be entertained till November 30. Hard copies of the list will be available at all residential halls of the university. Those who wish to register their names can do so by contacting their respective hall provost’s office. Earlier on September 15, after meeting with student organizations, DU VC Akhtaruzzaman at a briefing said that DUCSU polls might be held by March 2019.
On September 12, fifteen former DU students filed a contempt petition against VC Md Akhtaruzzaman, proctor AKM Golam Rabbani and treasurer Kamal Uddin for violating a High Court order asking them to hold the DUCSU polls. On January 17, the HC Bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan asked the DU authorities to take steps for holding polls at a ‘suitable time, preferably within six months.’
The DUCSU polls did not take place in the last 28 years because of the indifference of successive governments and university administrations reportedly in order to maintain their dominance on campus. If true this was a Machiavellian attempt by successive administrations to keep the students of the country’s premier educational institution in check. It is shocking.
The students of DU have a proud and glorious history in the formation of various movements like the Language Movement of 1952 for which many have had to pay the ultimate price with their lives. Whatever the reasons, the elections must be held fairly. Any tampering of the elections by the authorities would constitute a serious breach of decorum. The outcome must be free and fair. The nation expects no less.
