We won't divide students by Muslim or Hindu: DUCSU GS

S M Forhad, the newly-elected general secretary (GS) of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), has pledged to work for all students regardless of their background or identity.
He said, "We will not divide the students as Shibir, Muslim, Hindu, or in any other way. We will work together with everyone. It is not about who supported us or who opposed us. The true goal of DUCSU is to work collectively for the students' welfare."
Forhad made the remarks at a meet-and-greet programme with the members of Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA), held at the DUCSU cafeteria on Thursday.
He announced several plans, including launching of a 'digital complaint box' to address the students' grievances, improving quality of canteen food, arranging training staff and managers, and auditing all financial activities of DUCSU.
At the meeting, DUCSU Vice President (VP) Abu Shadik Kayem stressed the need to dismantle political syndicates within the university administration. "Syndicates have developed at every level of administration. We will destroy them and introduce effective policies."
He also promised to make holding DUCSU elections a regular part of the academic calendar, much like semester schedules.
The VP praised the campus journalists for their courage, particularly during the previous Awami League regime and the July Uprising. "At a time when only a few dared to speak against the repression of Chhatra League, the DUJA members raised their voices. During the elections, too, they worked tirelessly to uphold the voters' trust and protect the democratic process," he added.
During the discussion, DUJA President Mohiuddin Mujahid Mahi highlighted a structural limitation, "The DUCSU representatives are currently members of the Senate, but not of the Syndicate, where all the key decisions are made. If the DUCSU leaders are included in the Syndicate, the students' interests would be more strongly protected."
Meanwhile, DUCSU launched a bus tracking app - 'Amader Lal Bus' - on a trial basis to address the students' long-standing transport problems and to improve service quality.
The app was introduced at a views-exchange meeting at the DUCSU building on Wednesday afternoon. Presidents and general secretaries of 17 DU bus routes were present on the occasion along with the DUCSU's newly-elected VP, GS, AGS, and transport secretary. The app allows the students to check the real-time location of university buses on their mobile phones, which is expected to cut waiting time and make daily commutes more convenient.

armanhossen7971@gmail.com