Desk Report,
The plan that student organizations are moving forward with, those who are being discussed as candidates
In the changed situation after the mass uprising, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Hall Parliament elections are going to be held. Six years ago, in the last DUCSU elections, most of the posts were won by the then ruling party’s student organization Chhatra League (now banned), but the leader of the quota reform movement, Nurul Haque Nur, won the post of Vice President (VP).
The plan that student organizations are moving forward with, those who are being discussed as candidates
That quota reform movement created new history in Bangladesh last year. The Awami League’s nearly 16-year rule fell in the face of the student-public movement. A part of the youth who led this movement are still students of Dhaka University. They are in the leadership of various student organizations. Therefore, in this new reality, politically conscious students on campus are curious about which student organizations can compete in the DUCSU elections and who are the potential candidates.
The schedule for the elections was announced yesterday Tuesday. According to the announced schedule, nomination papers can be submitted until August 19. The final list of candidates will be published on August 25. Voting will be held on September 9. The last DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections were held in 2019. In that election, held after 28 years, the maximum age limit for candidates was 30 years. However, in the upcoming DUCSU elections, the maximum age limit for candidates has been lifted. As a result, only full-time students of the university can be candidates in the elections.
According to the university authorities, evening course students will not be able to run for office in this election. To be a voter and candidate in the DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections, a student must be a full-time student of Dhaka University, who has been admitted to the first year of graduation through the admission test and is studying in a bachelor’s, master’s or MPhil program and is staying or attached to a residential hall.
In addition, students studying in evening courses as well as professional or executive masters, diploma, certificate and language courses will also not be eligible to vote or run. Similarly, students of colleges or institutes affiliated and attached to the university will not be able to participate in the elections.
Apart from that, students of the 2018-19 academic year will not be able to participate in the DUCSU elections unless they are students. The Election Commission formed to organize the DUCSU elections has taken this decision to avoid legal complications.
Ahead of this year’s DUCSU elections, an important demand from student organizations was to set up polling stations outside the halls. In compliance with that demand, it has been decided to set up polling stations outside the university’s residential halls for the DUCSU elections.
The centers are: 1. Curzon Hall Center (examination hall); Students of Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Amar Ekushey Hall and Fazlul Haque Hall will vote here. 2. Physical Education Center; Students of Jagannath Hall, Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall and Salimullah Muslim Hall will vote here. 3. Student-Teacher Center (TSC); Students of Rokeya Hall, Shamsun Nahar Hall and Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall will vote here. 4. Dhaka University Club Center; Students of Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall will vote here. 5. Senate Bhaban Center (Alumni Floor, Seminar Room, Dining Room); Students of Sir A.F. Rahman Hall, Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall and Bijoy Ekattor Hall will vote here. 6. Udayan School and College Center; Students of Surya Sen Hall, Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Kabi Jasimuddin Hall will vote here.
The plan that student organizations are moving forward with
After the announcement of the schedule, intense discussions have started among student organizations about candidates. Analysis is underway on who can be nominated for which post to snatch victory. However, it has been learned from talking to the leaders of most student organizations that this time the organizations are thinking about a combined general student panel rather than a party panel. They want to keep many candidates with a clean image outside their own organizations in their panels.
Some organizations believe that students will give a slight edge to candidates who contributed to the uprising in the DUCSU elections held after the July mass uprising. In addition, it is believed that female students, students from science faculties, indigenous, minority and non-resident students will play a major role in winning the votes of candidates.
The leaders of the organization have said that the panel of the nationalist Chhatra Dal will be decided in the light of the party’s decision. There are discussions going on that the Bangladesh Democratic Student Union will form a combined general students’ panel. Along with the left student organizations, there are discussions that the Islami Chhatra Shibir can also form a separate panel under the banner of general students.
Who is being discussed as a candidate
In the DUCSU elections, candidates will fight for a total of 28 posts, including Vice President (VP), General Secretary (GS), and Assistant General Secretary (AGS). In the face of the demands of student organizations, four new posts have been created: Research and Publications Secretary; Career Development Secretary; Health and Environment Secretary; and Human Rights and Legal Affairs Secretary.
Top leaders of student organizations and some familiar faces from the July Uprising are in the discussion as potential candidates. Abu Baker Majumder, convener of the central committee of the Democratic Students’ Union, an organization formed after the July Uprising, Abu Bakr Majumder, member secretary Zahid Ahsan and chief organizer Tahmid Al Muddasir Chowdhury, and Dhaka University branch convener Abdul Quader are likely to be candidates. Umama Fatema, former spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and Mohi, president of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association, are also in the discussion.
