No CU student union polls for 20 years
Students� welfare and cultural activities suffer
SHARIFUL ISLAM, Ctg
For more than two decades, the Chittagong University Central Students Union (CUCSU) has remained dysfunctional as no elections have been held, leading to unhealthy politics on the campus. The Chittagong University is the third largest in the country with around 25,000 students.
In the absence of a functional CUCSU, the students are facing a host of problems including a complete lack of cultural and extracurricular activities. They cannot put forward their demands to the university authorities as there is no designated student leader.
The absence of an elected CUCSU has created a power vacuum, which some of the student organisations are exploiting using muscle power. The CUCSU elections have been held six times after the university was established in 1966. The first CUCSU poll was held in 1970 in
which Mohammad Ibrahim was elected as Vice-president (VP). The last CUCSU election was held on February 8, 1990 that led to the formation of a 27-member committee. Nazim Uddin and Azim Uddin were elected as VP and General Secretary (GS) respectively.
The CUCSU building, located between the central library, arts and science faculties, has seen no activity for a long time now. The university authorities suspended the CUCSU in 1990 after the Chhatra Oikya leader, Farukuzzaman, was killed in a bloody clash with the Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS). Ever since, the CUCSU has remained dysfunctional. After talking to students and teachers, it became clear that the CUCSU elections were not held in the last two decades due to the lack of interest of university authorities and non-cooperation of student leaders.
The students called on the university authorities to hold the CUCSU elections in the
greater interest of campus life. They also urged political leaders to play an active role in the conduct of elections.
The students feel that if the CUCSU plays its role, a lot of problems they face can be taken care of. All political and cultural organisations are united in their demand for fresh elections. Some student leaders alleged that the university authorities are indifferent to their demand. The university authorities cite non-cooperation of the student organisations as the reason for not conducting the polls.
Mohammed Alamgir Tipu, President of CU unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) said that they have repeatedly demanded for the dissolution of the existing CUCSU body in order to conduct fresh election. A vibrant CUCSU is imperative for reflecting the opinions of general students and maintaining a fair political atmosphere apart from carrying out cultural activities and free-thinking on the campus, said Tipu.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) CU unit General Secretary, Saifuddin Salam Mithu, also demanded that the CUCSU elections be held immediately, urging for a co-existence of all students organisations. We are not free on the campus and the CUCSU election should be held in a democratic atmosphere to ensure participation of all, said Abu Sadat Zunayed, CU unit President of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation.
The existing CUCSU VP, Nazim Uddin, who is now a businessman said, Once, the CUCSU
was a vibrant body that organised various
activities, including extra-curricular activities and helped in building future leaders. But now, it is dysfunctional.
The CUCSU elections should be held immediately and regularly in the interest of academic and cultural activities. I have passed out long time ago.
This is dishonour for me to hold on to the post of VP, added Nazim. I have repeatedly urged he university authorities to hold elections as soon as possible.
The CU Vice-chancellor Prof. (Dr) Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury told The Independent, that the university wants to conduct fresh polls. We eagerly want a vibrant CUCSU. If there is an active students union, it will be very helpful. For this, students, irrespective of their party affiliations, should come forward to create a favourable environment, said Prof Iftekhar.
