Protesters issue 3-day ultimatum for fresh DUCSU polls schedule

Student protesters on Wednesday issued a three-day deadline for annoncing fresh election schedule for Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).

Or else, opposition student groups said they would be compelled to ‘stop all activities’ at the university campus.

Members of various panels, who boycotted Monday’s DUCSU elections, issued the ultimatum to the authorities, submitting a memorandum to the university’s vice chancellor.

“Unless the election results are cancelled and unless those who were engaged in election duties resign, and unless false cases filed against student leaders are withdrawn, we will be compelled to stop all activities at the university to uphold the glory of the university,” DUCSU vice president candidate from left-leaning organisations Liton Nandi told newsmen outside the office of the vice chancellor.

Several hundred students brought out a procession from Raju sculpture around 12:30pm and marched towards the vice-chancellor’s office, reports UNB. A six-member delegation went into the VC office to hand over the memorandum.

DUCSU vice-president-elect Nurul Haq Nur, also a quota reform movement leader, was among the protesters.

Faruk Hossain, joint convener of quota reform movement, said their demands include withdrawal of the cases filed against students over ‘assaulting’ the provost of Ruqayyah Hall.

Meanwhile, the hunger strike of five Dhaka University students rolled into the second day demanding fresh DUCSU polls. They vowed to continue their programme until their demand is met.

DUCSU polls, the first in 28 years, were marred by allegations of irregularities. All panels, except the pro-Awami League student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League, boycotted the election alleging vote fraud.

The BCL panel dominated the polls but its VP candidate Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon was defeated by Nur.