RU sans graduate polls for 24 years

No registered graduate election has been held on the campus of Rajshahi University for the last 24 years. This is the reason behind the absence of new faces in meetings of the senate, the highest policymaking body of the varsity. In fact, registered graduates have remained absent in senate meetings for the last 12 years.

The actual tenure of the elected representatives in this category is just three years. But 24 years have passed since the last election. This is a violation of the Rajshahi University Order, 1973 provision of Articles 1(K) and 20 (Presidents Order No.11 of 1973) and fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution's article 27. Current and formers members of the senate have emphasised holding elections in this category (registered graduate) to accommodate freshers.

According to media sources, voters of registered graduate representatives exercised their franchise for Dhaka University on December 20 last year and for Jahangirnagor University on 28 December without any untoward incident.

The sources said that the election for the registered graduate category in RU was held in 1994. From then, university students have been applied for the registered graduate category. But no election has been held till date due to the lack of any democratic practice on the campus.

In 2003, the BNP-led government had appointed a vice-chancellor (VC) for RU by violating university rules. Since then, no vice-chancellor have followed University Act-1973 for appointing a proper authority and that is why senate representative elections have not taken place.

Teachers alleged that the immediate past VC had failed to perform his duties as he did not inform the government about the expiry of his term in due time. According to University Ordinance-1973, it is the duty of a VC to hold an election to make a three-member panel and to send their names to the chancellor to choose one of them as the next VC. But this process to select a new VC and pro-VC are not being held here for last 17 years, senior teachers and officials confirmed. The RU senate consists of 104 members, including a VC, a pro-VC, a treasurer, five government officials, five parliamentarians, 25 representatives from registered graduates, five representatives from the RUCSU, five distinguished educationists, five representatives from research bodies, five affiliated college principals, 10 affiliated college teachers, the Rajshahi Education Board chairman and 35 elected teachers.

Of these four categories, the government nominates five officials, the Speaker nominates five parliament members, the chancellor nominates five noted educationists and the university syndicate nominates five members from various research institutions. In these categories, new members are nominated on a regular basis.

Dr KBM Mahbubor Rahman, a professor of the economics department and also a senate member, alleged that the university authorities do not arrange any polls. Besides, they are afraid of losing elections, he said.

“It's basically a violation of Public University Act-1973. All categories of elections of the senate should be arranged for developing the leadership quality for the greater benefits of students,’’  he added.

A former vice president of the RU Central Student Union told The Independent that Jamaat activists had won all posts in the last registered graduate representative election in 1994. "But they would not get a single seat today in case of an election," he said. He blamed the university administration for its reluctance to hold the election.

Habibur Rahman, an elected registered graduate representative and also principal of Shah Mukdum College in Rajshahi, said that he forgot the exact date of the last election. “University authorities follow the direction of the government, which must give the green signal for holding registered graduate polls," he added. Prof. Anada Kumar Saha, pro vice-chancellor of RU, said: “We don't intend to hold the registered graduate category election at this moment. We're just following our policy in this regard."

Referring to the DU and JU elections, Saha said: “They arranged the elections and it's very well. We'll discuss the matter with our highest policymaking body soon.”

 

RU sans graduate polls for 24 years

No registered graduate election has been held on the campus of Rajshahi University for the last 24 years. This is the reason behind the absence of new faces in meetings of the senate, the highest policymaking body of the varsity. In fact, registered graduates have remained absent in senate meetings for the last 12 years. The actual tenure of the elected representatives in this category is just three years. But 24 years have passed since the last election. This is a violation of the Rajshahi University Order, 1973 provision of Articles 1(K) and 20 (Presidents Order No.11 of 1973) and fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitutions article 27. Current and formers members of the senate have emphasised holding elections in this category (registered graduate) to accommodate freshers. According to media sources, voters of registered graduate representatives exercised their franchise for Dhaka University on December 20 last year and for Jahangirnagor University on 28 December without any untoward incident. The sources said that the election for the registered graduate category in RU was held in 1994. From then, university students have been applied for the registered graduate category. But no election has been held till date due to the lack of any democratic practice on the campus. In 2003, the BNP-led government had appointed a vice-chancellor (VC) for RU by violating university rules. Since then, no vice-chancellor have followed University Act-1973 for appointing a proper authority and that is why senate representative elections have not taken place. Teachers alleged that the immediate past VC had failed to perform his duties as he did not inform the government about the expiry of his term in due time. According to University Ordinance-1973, it is the duty of a VC to hold an election to make a three-member panel and to send their names to the chancellor to choose one of them as the next VC. But this process to select a new VC and pro-VC are not being held here for last 17 years, senior teachers and officials confirmed. The RU senate consists of 104 members, including a VC, a pro-VC, a treasurer, five government officials, five parliamentarians, 25 representatives from registered graduates, five representatives from the RUCSU, five distinguished educationists, five representatives from research bodies, five affiliated college principals, 10 affiliated college teachers, the Rajshahi Education Board chairman and 35 elected teachers. Of these four categories, the government nominates five officials, the Speaker nominates five parliament members, the chancellor nominates five noted educationists and the university syndicate nominates five members from various research institutions. In these categories, new members are nominated on a regular basis. Dr KBM Mahbubor Rahman, a professor of the economics department and also a senate member, alleged that the university authorities do not arrange any polls. Besides, they are afraid of losing elections, he said. Its basically a violation of Public University Act-1973. All categories of elections of the senate should be arranged for developing the leadership quality for the greater benefits of students, he added. A former vice president of the RU Central Student Union told The Independent that Jamaat activists had won all posts in the last registered graduate representative election in 1994. But they would not get a single seat today in case of an election, he said. He blamed the university administration for its reluctance to hold the election. Habibur Rahman, an elected registered graduate representative and also principal of Shah Mukdum College in Rajshahi, said that he forgot the exact date of the last election. University authorities follow the direction of the government, which must give the green signal for holding registered graduate polls, he added. Prof. Anada Kumar Saha, pro vice-chancellor of RU, said: We dont intend to hold the registered graduate category election at this moment. Were just following our policy in this regard. Referring to the DU and JU elections, Saha said: They arranged the elections and its very well. Well discuss the matter with our highest policymaking body soon.