Samajtantrik Chhatra Front demands Ducsu election after reforms
The organisation calls for limits on the vice-chancellor’s powers and greater authority and independence for elected student representatives.
Highlights:
- Student Front calls for immediate announcement of Ducsu election schedule
- Demands annual elections be included in DU's academic calendar
- Seeks limits on the administrative powers of the vice-chancellor
- Calls for greater independence of elected student representatives
The Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (Marxist) has demanded that the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election schedule be announced immediately after necessary reforms are made to its constitution.
The organisation made the demand at a press conference at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus this afternoon (22 September).
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Mozammel Haque, convener of the organisation's Dhaka University unit, read out a written statement at the press conference.
"The uncertainty surrounding the Ducsu election is in no way acceptable," he said, noting that the current Ducsu committee's one-year tenure has already ended while the university administration is yet to announce a schedule for the next election.
Under the existing Ducsu constitution, elected office-bearers serve for 365 days. If an election cannot be held within that period, they can remain in office for up to another 90 days or until the election is held, whichever comes first.
Mozammel said the university administration should have completed preparations for the next election and announced its schedule before the current committee's term ended.
He also said the additional 90-day provision should not be used as a justification for delaying the election.
Mozammel said several provisions of the Ducsu constitution were undemocratic and gave the university administration excessive authority over the student union.
Under the current constitution, the vice-chancellor serves as Ducsu's ex-officio president and has powers relating to meetings, emergency measures, removal of office-bearers and dissolution of the executive committee, subject to the constitutional provisions.
The organisation called for these powers to be reviewed to ensure elected student representatives have effective authority and greater independence in running the union.
It also demanded an independent and credible election commission, neutral election officials and an effective mechanism for candidates and organisations to raise complaints during the electoral process.
For the hall unions, the organisation called for limits on the powers of provosts and greater authority for elected representatives.
The organisation placed three demands at the press conference.
It called for the Ducsu election schedule to be announced immediately after necessary constitutional reforms; for elections to be held annually at a fixed time and included in the university's academic calendar; and for a balance of power between the Ducsu president and the administration while ensuring elected representatives have effective authority in executive committee decision-making.
The current Ducsu committee assumed office on 14 September 2025. Under the constitution, it can remain in office for up to 90 days beyond its one-year term if a new election is not held within the original period.
The university has yet to finalise the schedule for the 2026 Ducsu election.
