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The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday stayed a High Court (HC) order, which earlier on the day had) suspended the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election until 30 October, allowing the long-awaited polls to proceed as scheduled.
Chamber Judge Justice Farah Mahbub stayed the HC order after hearing a provisional petition filed by Dhaka University authorities.
Earlier in the afternoon, the High Court halted the election after a writ petition challenged the candidacy of SM Farhad, general secretary (GS) contender from the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Oikkabaddha Shikkharti Jote.
News of the suspension spread around 3:45pm, sparking protests and processions across the campus.
The Shibir-backed panel immediately held a press briefing in front of the DUCSU building, where vice-president candidate Md Abu Sadik (Sadik Kayem) accused rivals of conspiring to derail student politics.
"DUCSU is the dream of the July warriors. Conspiracies have continued since the schedule was announced, but none can stop this election," he said, warning of nationwide protests if the polls were disrupted.
GS candidate Farhad added, "We know who is staging fake dramas. On September 9, students will show them the red card."
Other panels also joined the agitation. The independent group Swatantra Shikkharti Oikko brought out a procession from Madhu's Canteen to Raju Memorial Sculpture, led by their VP candidate Umama Fatema and GS contender Al Sadi Bhuiya.
At 5:30pm, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal organised a rally at Aparajeyo Bangla, where DU unit leader Abidul Islam Khan insisted, "DUCSU election must be held by September 9."
Meanwhile, candidates from the Student Rights Council staged a sit-in at the vice-chancellor's residence. Students from residence halls and faculties also marched to the campus, chanting slogans and demanding the DUCSU election be held on schedule and institutionalised as an annual practice.
The tension eased around 4:45pm when DU's counsel advocate Shishir Monir announced on Facebook that the Chamber Judge had stayed the HC order.
The university's public relations office later confirmed in a statement that the Chamber Court suspended the HC directive on the voter list and election process.
"Following the order of the Appellate Division, there is no longer any barrier to holding the DUCSU election on September 9," the statement said.
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