'No excuses, Ducsu polls must be held on 9 Sept’: Students protest HC postponement order
Students from various residential halls marched in processions towards the vice-chancellor’s residence, where they began gathering from around 4:15pm
Dhaka University students have launched protests against the High Court's decision to delay the Ducsu elections, demanding the polls be held on 9 September as scheduled.
Students from various residential halls marched in processions towards the vice-chancellor's residence, where they began gathering from around 4:15pm today (1 September).
During the protests, they chanted slogans "Ducsu on the 9th, we must have it," "Ducsu is our right, no one can stop it," and "One, two, three, four— Ducsu is our right."
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Student leaders and Ducsu polls candidates also took to social media and organised protests.
Shameem Hossen, an independent vice president (VP) candidate, posted on Facebook, "Ducsu election must be held without any excuses."
Similarly, Md Abidul Islam Khan, a VP candidate from Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal, insisted the election "must be held on schedule."
Abdul Kader, a VP candidate from the "Boishommobirodhi Chhatra Sangsad" panel, immediately called for a protest, the "Ducsu Chai Andolon," at Raju Memorial Sculpture premises at 4:30pm, calling for a "united and unstoppable movement."
Abu Bakar Mojumdar, the general secretary (GS) candidate from the same panel, told The Business Standard that all students and candidates would unite for the movement.
"Our position is clear: either Ducsu will be held, or it will head toward a tougher movement. No concessions will be made," he said, reiterating that the election must take place on 9 September.
Zahid Ahsan of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council also rejected the High Court's order, stating, "This Ducsu is the outcome of an uprising. Do not try to show the uprising to the High Court. The order to suspend Ducsu amounts to breaking the commitment of that uprising. We reject this order."
Earlier in the day, the High Court postponed the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election until 30 October.
Later within a half hour, the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division stayed the High Court order that had postponed the Ducsu election until 30 October.
With the stay in place, there is now no legal bar to holding the election, said Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir.
According to the announced schedule, the election of the central committee of Ducsu and the hall unions is scheduled to be held on 9 September.
