Vice-President-elect of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Nurul Haque Nur has demanded re-election to all posts by March 31. The quota reform leader on Thursday said, “They (Bangladesh Chhatra League) could not defeat Akhter Hossain and me from my panel despite gross vote rigging. They have defeated the others implementing a blueprint….I demand re-election to all the posts of DUCSU by March 31, scrapping the controversial election.” The most thing Nurul Haq Nur has said is his refusal for the students to be affected by sycophancy of party politics.
What’s significant that, the DU authorities have found proof of vote rigging in Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall, where several hundred ballot papers were found in a sack marked in favour of the BCL candidates. But the DU authorities still didn’t switch their stand saying that election was free and fair. Registering protest, most participating panels are now demanding a re-election in DUCSU and Hall unions. Meanwhile, Nur has expressed solidarity with the Ruqayyah Hall students who are on hunger strike demanding re-election to their Hall Sangsad and resignation of the Hall Provost over her failure to hold a fair election. But Provost of Ruqayyah Hall Professor Dr Zeenat Huda yesterday said she has no authority to re-arrange DUCSU elections for Ruqayyah Hall unit.
The hunger strike of six students was going on the third consecutive day yesterday. Surprisingly, no one of the DU authorities came to visit them though one student was already hospitalised. However, Vice-President candidate of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) panel Mostafizur Rahman expressed solidarity with the girls and vowed his promise to stay with them.
Surprisingly, DU VC Prof Md Akhteruzzaman yesterday had shown a complete disregard to demands of a fresh election to DUCSU and refused to comment about the students who were observing hunger strike. On contrary he said: “A vested quarter is trying to create confusion about DUCSU election though it took place in a fair and festive manner.”
Even, the VC, refused to accept the students’ demands with a three-day ultimatum for fair election.
The election subversion has become the main purpose of party politics for not recognising public opinion to be in power. A university should be a place for building a better future by students devoting to learning and not loyal to party politics for being used as violent element of the party.
We are sure that the students who allow themselves to be used as party activists are not only destroying their own bright future but also that of the country. They learn nothing being party leaders about the need of good education and independent thinking.
They are being used as musclemen for barrelling forward their self-promoting efforts. It is dishonesty for teachers to be party-activists working as agents of party leaders. The election stealing at the DUCSU was done with the active participation of teachers loyal to the government who themselves have stolen the national election.
The struggle of the Dhaka University students can also be seen as the struggle to save the higher education from the clutches of the destructive party politics. Our party politics have no love for the students to become worthy and honest future leaders.
Under both the main political leaders the education suffered most and students have been misguided not be what they deserved to be. They became obedient musclemen and terrors.
