DU sets up 10-strong commission for long-overdue DUCSU election

Dhaka University has announced a 10-member election commission for the long-pending Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls, following sustained pressure from students staging a sit-in outside the vice chancellor’s residence.

A notice from the university’s public relations office on Monday confirmed the panel was formed under Article 8(F) of the DUCSU constitution, with Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan appointing the members.

The appointments were approved at a syndicate meeting the same day, it added.

Botany professor Mohammad Zashim Uddin has been made chief returning officer.

The other nine returning officers are:

• Prof ASM Mohiuddin (Soil, Water and Environment)
• Prof Golam Rabbani (Institute of Social Welfare and Research)
• Prof Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq (Information Science and Library Management)
• Prof Kazi Maruful Islam (Development Studies)
• Prof Nasrin Sultana (Institute of Health Economics)
• Prof Md Shahidul Islam (Banking and Insurance)
• Prof Tariq Manzoor (Bangla)
• Prof SM Shameem Reza (Mass Communication and Journalism)
• Associate Prof Sharmin Kabir (Institute of Education and Research)

The announcement followed days of protests, with students calling for the commission’s immediate formation and the announcement of an election schedule.

Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said on Sunday, “We have a syndicate meeting [Monday] afternoon. We’re confident we’ll pass the commission there.”

The last DUCSU polls were held in 2019 with a six-strong panel.

This time, the university added four more officials, citing the need to boost transparency and credibility.

In DU’s 100-year history, DUCSU elections have been held 37 times --29 of them during British and Pakistani rule over 50 years.

Since independence, the university has held only eight elections in 53 years.

With no DUCSU polls in five years since the 2019 term expired, students currently lack representation in the university’s Senate.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, the university said it planned to hold DUCSU polls by February.