No CUCSU election held over two decades

CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY: Chittagong University Central Students Union (CUCSU) election has been due over two decade because of the university authorities’ indifference.

Different student bodies of the university said they always wanted the election and pressed the authorities for it on various occasions.

Baki Billah Hridoy, a student of the Economics Department, also stressed the need for elected student representatives to bring forward the demands of neutral students.

Noted Political Scientist Prof Dr. Mohammad Yeahia Akter, Professor of Political Science Department, told banglanews: “It is the matter of will of the university administration to hold CUCSU polls. The authorities don’t want the elected student body to enjoy absolute power.”  

Probal Majumder, president of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front CU unit, said, ‘CUCSU was the centre of all democratic movement of students in Chittagong. But the university authorities do not want to hold the election as they feared movements.’

“If there was an effective student union, the university administration would have to take students’ demands into discretion and allow their representatives in the decision making process” added Prof Yeahia Akter, also a senate member of the university.

The university is not following the Chittagong University Act, 1973, said Gazi Saleh Uddin, a Professor of Sociology.

Prof Gazi, also an Ex-Dean of the social science faculty said, the university has become failure to produce future leaders due to irregularity of holding CUCSU polls.

Abdul Mannan, Syndicate Member & former Vice-Chancellor of CU told banglanews, “Sick politics has intruded into the university due to the lack of a student union.”

Since the inception of the university in 1966, CUCSU elections were held only six times. In the first election in 1970, Mohammad Ibrahim was elected the Vice-President (VP).

The last CUCSU polls were held in 1990 and Md Nazim Uddin became the VP. But the momentum was lost later that year as Farukuzzaman, a leader of a student organisation Chhatra Oikya, was killed in a clash with Islami Chhatra Shibir (SHIBIR).

Nazim Uddin is still the CUCSU VP in papers. Talking to banglanews, he also emphasized on holding the election immediately.

Ruling Awami League backed Bangladesh Chhatra League had always been in favour of the election as it is a mode of ensuring student rights, said its CU unit president Mamunul Hoque and MA Khaled, Secretary CU Unit.

According to Saifuddin Salam Mitu, Secratary of the CU unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, students were being deprived of extra-curricular activities due to the absence of the union.

I have a plan to hold the CUCSU election, said CU VC Prof Anwarul Azim Arif.

However, he said that the time is not favourable yet to hold the polls.

“Once the situation returns to normal, I will consider this issue,” he added.

BDST: 17:30 HRS, JUN 01, 2012

Edited by:
Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor