BY Mahdi Al Muhtasim
DHAKA, Jan 28, 2019 (BSS) – The draft of a fresh electoral code of conduct
for the long overdue and much-awaited polls to Dhaka University Central
Students’ Union (DUCSU) and its hall unions drew a mixed reaction among
student organisations, the main stakeholder of the polls.
The seven members’ code of conduct formulation committee drafted the new
regulation incorporating a total of 39 sub-sections into 14 sections to
ensure peaceful polls.
The university authorities formed the code of conduct formulation
committee making its Pro-Vice Chancellor (academic) Prof Nasreen Ahmad as
convener on January 19 for DUCSU polls slated for March 11 next.
The draft new electoral code of conduct fixed campaigning timeframe from
10 am to 10 pm every day, completely prohibited processions at the time of
collection and submission of nomination forms, asked candidates to take
maximum five supporters during collecting or submitting nomination forms,
barred any distinguished persons, politician, university teacher and official
to conduct electioneering in favor or against any candidate on the campus.
It also includes imposing bar on electioneering, processions or rallies
possibly harmful for studies or classes in any place on the campus including
class rooms, reading rooms, corridors of the academic buildings and
examinations halls.
According to the draft’s 5 (Ka) section, permission would be needed to
conduct any election rally before 48-hour of polls. The induction of this
clause created a mixed reaction among student bodies prompting those to
demand to make it 24-hour.
On Thursday, the draft was sent to the student organisations along with a
letter signed by the university proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani seeking their
recommendations on it.
Appreciating and expressing its support the 5(Cha) section of the draft
having prohibition on election campaigning in the classrooms, Bangladesh
Chhatra League (BCL)’s DU unit said it will maintain congenial atmosphere for
education at the country’s highest educational hub.
“We want no students’ organisations to use loudspeakers (mikes) for
campaigning anywhere on the campus that can likely harm academic activities.
Student bodies rather can use loudspeakers in auditoriums,” BCL DU unit
president Sonjit Chandra Das told BSS.
BCL DU unit want congenial atmosphere for journalists so that they can
discharge their duties freely, he said.
DU unit BCL general secretary Saddam Hussain said they want barrier on
student bodies not to conduct campaign by their former leaders.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), students’ wing of BNP,
demanded allowing their former and central leaders to join electioneering.
About journalists’ role in the polls, JCD DU unit President Al Mehedi
Talukder said they want that journalists should be given chance to broadcast
live from the election centers and time limitation for campaigning should be
relaxed.
Left leaning students’ wing Bangladesh Chhatra Union also said former
DUCSU leaders should be given chance to join election campaign with urging to
make the timeframe of campaign from 10 am to 12 midnight every day.
“We also demand CCTV cameras be kept at election centers for
ensuing fair polls with providing voters registration slip number signed by
respective hall provosts among voters through their departments,” Chhatra
Union DU unit president Foyez Ullah said.
Left leaning students’ organisation Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and
others also demanded that limitation of taking permission of holding any
election rally before 48-hour be reduced to 24-hour.
DU syndicate will pass the electoral code of conduct after reviewing the
proposals and recommendations of the student bodies.
“We will review the recommendations to be given by the students’
organization. The draft of electoral code of conduct will be passed at the
university’s syndicate meeting on Tuesday,” said Prof Nasreen Ahmad, convener
of the code of conduct formulation committee.