Nur disagrees on DUCSU life member as committee meets

DUCSU Vice President (VP) Nurul Haq Nur has disagreed with members of the Dhaka University student body on making Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a lifelong member of the body.

His disagreement came in the first executive committee meeting of the DUCSU on Saturday at the DUCSU building at 11am with DU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.

Only the newly-elected VP opposed the proposal among the 25 elected representatives of the body in the meeting.

The DUCSU, formed after polls on Mar 11, held its first meeting after nearly three decades at the DUCSU building on Saturday.

As per DUCSU's constitution, the roles of the student body's president and treasurer are reserved for the university's chancellor and a teacher, respectively, while other posts are taken over by elected student representatives.

VP Nurur Haque Nur who was elected from the quota reformists' platform Bangladesh General Student Rights Protection Council, finally assumed office on Saturday amid calls for reelection from five panels including his own.

He has taken charge as the VP alongside continuing movement for the re-election and as the election was controversial, he

didn't think it was right to make anyone a lifetime member, he said.

The newly-elected 25 representatives of DUCSU were present in the meeting.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)-backed Sammilita Shikkharthi Parishad panel swept the DUCSU polls securing all the posts of its 25-member executive committee except the posts of VP and social welfare secretary.

Newly-elected general secretary (GS) Golam Rabbani delivered the welcome speech and introduced the elected panel leaders of the central union. DU VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman validated the newly-elected council for one year.

VP, GS, AGS and other elected representatives went to Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

The executive committee has decided to organise an inauguration programme where DU Chancellor President Mohammad Abdul Hamid or Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be present.

After the meeting, VC Akhtaruzzaman told reporters, "We have decided to hold a big cultural programme and there the Honorable President or Honorable Prime Minister will be present as a guest. The responsibility was given to the executive committee from Saturday and it was a great challenge for us."

Due to irregularities and vote rigging in March 11 DUCSU elections, five panels- Bangladesh General Student Right Protection Council, Swatantro Jote, Swadhiker Swatantro Parishad, Progatisheel Chhatra Jote and Bangladesh Student Federation boycotted the election and demanded reelection.

VP Nur said, "I expressed solidarity with the students who are pressing for reelection. The nation didn't expect such a tainted election from the DU authorities after a wait of over 28 years."

He raised his voice against the existing malpractices including the 'Gono-room, guest-room' culture and demanded that the seat allotment in the dormitories must be based on merit not for any political affiliation.

Meanwhile, some activists of a leftist organisation formed a human chain in front of the DUCSU building to press for reelection.

On the other hand, more than one hundred activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) marched on the campus covering their mouths with black clothes demanding immediate schedule for DUCSU and Hall union elections.

The DUCSU and Hall union elections were held on March 11 amid the allegations of irregularities including vote rigging. An investigation committee was also formed by the authority to investigate the allegations.