Demo at DU demanding re-election to Ducsu

Students today staged a sit-in before the vice chancellor’s office demanding re-election to Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu).

They brought out a protest rally from the base of Raju Sculpture around 12noon today and paraded through the campus before staging the sit-in.

Activists and followers of the five panels of leftists, independents and quota reformists who boycotted Ducsu election were leading the march.

This is the first programme held after their three-day ultimatum for a fresh election schedule – what was shrugged off by the vice chancellor.

The sit-in near the entrance of VC’s office. Photo: Prabir Das

Before the vice-chancellor’s office, the students were chanting slogans in rejection of the Ducsu election result and demanding a re-election.

WHAT HAPPENED IN DUCSU ELECTION

It was a 28-year long wait to Ducsu election – what ended in boycott of all major panels except that of the ruling party’s front Chhatra League.

The election was marked by proof of irregularities in two of the girls’ hall which led to the replacement of a hall provost on election day.

Protesting students staging the sit-in before Registrar Building of Dhaka University, which houses the office of the vice chancellor. Photo: Prabir Das

Results saw quota reform leader Nurul Haque Nur win the vice president post, leaving the almost all the other posts to the ruling party’s student front.

Since then, the boycotting panels have been demanding fresh elections to Ducsu, rejecting the results of what they said was a “controversial election”.