The High Court (HC) yesterday directed Dhaka University (DU) authorities to take necessary steps within six months to hold the Dhaka University Central Student’s Union (DUCSU) elections.
The HC bench also directed the home ministry to provide support to DU authorities to hold the polls.
The DUCSU is considered the country’s most prestigious student platform whose leaders have played a stellar role in the movement for independence and democracy.
The last elections to the DUCSU were held on June 6, 1990, the year the military dictator HM Ershad’s regime collapsed. At that time, student organisations, especially the left-leaning ones, had been persistently demanding the holding of the poll.
After disposing of a writ petition, the HC bench, comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur
Rahman Khan, delivered the verdict.
Later, attorney general Mahbubey Alam told reporters that the HC directed DU authorities to hold the DUCSU elections immediately, if possible at a suitable time within the next six months.
In response to a query, the chief law officer of the state said that there was no problem in holding the DUCSU elections in a congenial atmosphere.
“But I'll file an appeal against the HC order if DU authorities want to do so,” he added. On the other hand, advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for the petitioners, told reporters that DU authorities would have to hold the DUCSU elections within six months following the HC order.
Since DUCSU elections have not been held for the past last 27 years, students have not been able to send their representatives to the senate of the DU in all these years.
Student organisations, especially the left-leaning ones, demanded the polls on numerous occasions, but the authorities did not pay heed.
“Now, the authorities will have to arrange the elections following the HC order,” Manzil Murshid added.
The writ petition was filed by 25 DU students on March 21, 2012, seeking an HC directive to hold the DUCSU elections.
After a preliminary hearing on the writ petition, the HC bench had issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be directed to hold the DUCSU polls.
The education secretary, DU vice chancellor (VC), pro-vice Chancellor, registrar and proctor were made respondents to the rule, which was returnable in four weeks.
After the final hearing on the rule, the HC bench on Tuesday fixed the next day to deliver its order on the petition.
Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner, while attorney general Mahbubey Alam, with the assistance of deputy attorney general Amit Talukdar, represented the state.