Writ seeks HC stay on DUCSU election

JCD stages sit-in demanding polls deferment

FE Team | Published: February 24, 2019 22:47:55

A writ was filed with the High Court seeking stay on the schedule of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) polls, report agencies.
Barrister Ruhul Kuddus, a Supreme Court lawyer and also the counsel of the petitioner Fahmida Mazid, student affairs secretary of Dhaka University unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and a student of International Relations of the DU, filed the writ with the High Court bench concerned on behalf of his client.
Barrister Ruhul Kuddus said his client filed the writ petition as her name was not included in the voter list.
The petitioner also sought issuance of rule from the HC asking the government to explain as to why the announcement of the DUCSU polls schedule without including the name of the petitioner in the voter list should not be declared illegal.
The hearing on the writ petition is expected to be held at the HC bench comprising Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir.
On February 11,Chief Returning Officer Prof Mahfuzur Rahman announced the election schedule of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) billed for March 11.
Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a sit-in in front of Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor's office on the day, demanding a three-month delay of the DU Central Students' Union and hall union elections.
That is part of the BNP's student wing's seven-point list of demands.
About 150 activists of the Chhatra Dal marched from Madhu's Canteen to the VC's office around 12pm on Sunday. They then took up positions in front of the office and chanted slogans.
"We have spoken to the VC several times but he has not accepted any of our demands. So we have decided to continue our street protests until our demands are met," said Bashar Siddiqui, general secretary of the DU unit of Chhatra Dal.
Chhatra Dal Central General Secretary Akramul Hassan and DU Unit President Al-Mehedi Talukder also joined the protest.
The administration locked the doors to the VC's office prior to the activists' arrival.
The seven-point list of demands also includes the use of academic buildings as polling centres instead of the student halls, ensuring the co-existence of all student organisations on the campus before the election, the cancellation of the age limit for candidates and allowing all registered members of DUCSU.
Prior to this, a memorandum was also submitted to the VC on behalf of the Chhatra Dal on February 7 presenting their demands.