How student leaders react to Rucsu polls rescheduling
Originally slated for 25 September, the polls have been postponed to 16 October.
The rescheduling of the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) elections has drawn mixed reactions from student leaders.
Originally slated for 25 September, the polls have been postponed to 16 October, the Rucsu Election Commission announced in a press release following an emergency meeting this evening (22 September).
The decision came amid demands from at least five panels, including Chhatra Dal's, to hold the election after the Durga Puja, citing unrest over the ward quota issue and students leaving campus for puja vacation.
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Most candidates and voters welcomed the decision. However, candidates backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir expressed disappointment over the postponement.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Mustakur Rahman Zahid, Shibir-backed candidate for vice president post, said, "A particular group has repeatedly tried to sabotage the election. As part of this conspiracy, they created instability on campus by raising quota issues."
Expressing disappointment over the postponement, he said, "Some forces never want students to be empowered. The responsibility for students leaving the campus due to unrest lies with the administration. Weaknesses on the part of the administration and the election commission have created an unstable environment at the university."
On the other hand, Nafiul Jibon, general secretary candidate from Chhatra Dal, welcomed the postponement. "Given the current campus situation, holding the election on the originally scheduled date was impossible, as most students had left the campus," he said.
"Conducting an election without maximum student participation would have been questionable. Therefore, we urged the administration and election commission to postpone the election. We hope that on 16 October, a participatory election will take place with the maximum presence of students," he added.
The teachers, officials, and employees of Rajshahi University (RU) continued their work abstention for the second day today as part of their "complete shutdown" programme demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in what they called the humiliation of a pro-vice-chancellor, the proctor and other teachers.
Due to the shutdown, classes and exams remain suspended, and students are leaving the campus in large numbers.
