JUCSU polls to be held soon, hope students

The recent pronouncements by top functionaries have revived hopes of student union elections at Jahangirnagar University (JU), which were last held in 1992.

“It may be possible to organise the JU Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) polls within three to four months as a congenial atmosphere prevails on the campus. The education ministry and the university authorities will organise this election,” finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith had said at a programme on the JU campus on Saturday.
Recently, university chancellor President Abdul Hamid had also expressed similar interest in the JUCSU polls.
The election was earlier scheduled to be held on January 2, 2014, but was suspended indefinitely following campus unrest.
However, the comments by the finance minister and the chancellor have revived interest among both students and teachers.
Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) JU unit president Jewel Rana said, “At present, there is a fair and credible atmosphere on campus, and therefore the right time to take an initiative for holding the JUCSU election. The university authorities have to take the responsibility to organise this election immediately.”
Other students’ outfits on campus, including Bangladesh Student Union (BSU), JU Sangsad, and Bangladesh Socialist Student Front, echoed the demand.
BSU’s JU unit president Imran Nadim said, “Since our honourable chancellor has expressed interest in the polls, the university authorities have to take the responsibility in this regard at the earliest.”
Nadim’s counterpart in the Bangladesh Socialist Student Front, Sushmita Moriom, said, “Although the university authorities have expressed interest in the JUCSU election, it is actually just their words. We want to see it in reality.”
Apart from the organisations, general students too have evinced interest in the election.
Anik Kumar Das, a fourth-year student of the Chemistry department, said, “A proper JUCSU is very urgent for general students. Right now, there is no one to speak on our behalf at the Senate. So some decisions taken by the authorities go against the students.”
On their part, the university authorities felt that the government must take the responsibility for organising the polls.
JU pro-vice-chancellor Prof. Dr Abul Hossain said, “We are positive about the election. But this is a political issue, and therefore the government should handle this matter directly. It’s is very difficult for us to take the responsibility to organise this election alone after such a long time.”
He further said, “A congenial atmosphere is prevailing on the campus. If any university introduces student union elections, the other universities will be inspired to follow suit. But the students have to more responsible in this regard.”

JUCSU polls to be held soon, hope students

The recent pronouncements by top functionaries have revived hopes of student union elections at Jahangirnagar University (JU), which were last held in 1992. It may be possible to organise the JU Central Students Union (JUCSU) polls within three to four months as a congenial atmosphere prevails on the campus. The education ministry and the university authorities will organise this election, finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith had said at a programme on the JU campus on Saturday. Recently, university chancellor President Abdul Hamid had also expressed similar interest in the JUCSU polls. The election was earlier scheduled to be held on January 2, 2014, but was suspended indefinitely following campus unrest. However, the comments by the finance minister and the chancellor have revived interest among both students and teachers. Bangladesh Chhatra Leagues (BCL) JU unit president Jewel Rana said, At present, there is a fair and credible atmosphere on campus, and therefore the right time to take an initiative for holding the JUCSU election. The university authorities have to take the responsibility to organise this election immediately. Other students outfits on campus, including Bangladesh Student Union (BSU), JU Sangsad, and Bangladesh Socialist Student Front, echoed the demand. BSUs JU unit president Imran Nadim said, Since our honourable chancellor has expressed interest in the polls, the university authorities have to take the responsibility in this regard at the earliest. Nadims counterpart in the Bangladesh Socialist Student Front, Sushmita Moriom, said, Although the university authorities have expressed interest in the JUCSU election, it is actually just their words. We want to see it in reality. Apart from the organisations, general students too have evinced interest in the election. Anik Kumar Das, a fourth-year student of the Chemistry department, said, A proper JUCSU is very urgent for general students. Right now, there is no one to speak on our behalf at the Senate. So some decisions taken by the authorities go against the students. On their part, the university authorities felt that the government must take the responsibility for organising the polls. JU pro-vice-chancellor Prof. Dr Abul Hossain said, We are positive about the election. But this is a political issue, and therefore the government should handle this matter directly. Its is very difficult for us to take the responsibility to organise this election alone after such a long time. He further said, A congenial atmosphere is prevailing on the campus. If any university introduces student union elections, the other universities will be inspired to follow suit. But the students have to more responsible in this regard.