All the five panels except Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday continued to demand fresh polls for the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU). BCL, which swept the DUCSU elections, was almost inactive on the day.
The Dhaka University vice-chancellor (VC) has rejected the demand for re-election for all posts of the DUCSU within March 31 and the three-day ultimatum for a fresh poll schedule. “Re-election is not possible,” said the VC, Akhtaruzzaman, while talking to reporters on the campus yesterday afternoon.
On the other hand, candidates and supporters of the five panels of Chhatra Dal, leftists and quota reformists along with independent candidates continued their hunger-strike at the base of the Raju Sculpture. Four students began the protest on Tuesday, and two more joined them yesterday.
“We are demanding re-election for all posts of the DUCSU by March 31 and a fresh poll schedule,” said Nurul Haq Nur, newly elected vice-president, while talking to reporters at the university yesterday afternoon.
After handing over a memorandum demanding a fresh DUCSU election schedule in three days, Liton Nandi, leader of the leftist panel, told reporters that the VC rejected the demand for a fresh schedule, and threatened to file a case against those trying to create anarchy and chaos on the campus. He said their demands include re-election and withdrawal of false cases filed against students.
Nur said fresh polls must be held. The administration must organise free and fair DUCSU polls by March 31. “The nation wanted a free and fair election. However, the university authorities helped stage a fake election marred by rigging and irregularities,” said Nur.
"Despite the rigging, they (Bangladesh Chhatra League) could not defeat me and Akhter Hossain, who won the social welfare secretary's post from my panel. However, they defeated the others in accordance with a blueprint chalked out," he added.
The students on hunger-strike said their protest will continue until their demands are met by the authorities.
One of them, Rafia Tamanna, said she campaigned for the candidates of Swadhikar Swatontro Jote. However, none of the candidates who contested from this panel won due to rigging and irregularities.
“We are here with our two-point demand. Our first demand is that the recently-held DUCSU polls be annulled and the university authorities announce fresh polls so that deserving candidates get a chance to be elected. Our second demand is that those responsible for rigging and irregularities be brought under the law and punished accordingly,” she said.
IK
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.
Editor : M. Shamsur Rahman
Published by the Editor on behalf of Independent Publications Limited at Media Printers, 446/H, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1215.
Editorial, News & Commercial Offices : Beximco Media Complex, 149-150 Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. GPO Box No. 934, Dhaka-1000.