Monday’s DUCSU polls shameful: its former leaders [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Monday’s DUCSU polls shameful: its former leaders

Local March 12, 2019

Former vice-presidents of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Mahufuza Khanam, Rashed Khan Menon, Mujahidul Islam Selim, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna and former general secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon on Monday described the just held DUCSU elections as ‘shameful’ as they were marred by , ballot stuffing, booth jamming, not allowing common students to vote, attacks on contestants.
Selim, Manna and Khokon demanded scrapping the results of Monday’s elections and holding fresh elections.
All the four former VPs and the former general secretary blasted the DU authorities for their failure to hold free and fair polls.
They said that they had expected the DUCSU elections, that took place after 28 years, would be free and fair.
They expressed shock and dismay over the DU authorities’ failure.
Eight DU teachers, who monitored the polls as independent observers, said that elections were ‘neither free nor fair.’
‘The conduct of the elections was shameful. The teachers acted shamefully by compromising with their honour and dignity. The whole proceedings were sad and condemnable as they would bring doom for the nation,’ said Mujahidul Islam Selim, the first DUCSU VP in post liberation Bangladesh, told New Age.
‘What could be worse than some of the former DU students who were once ready to give their lives in past to protect fellow students’ rights on Monday were the main instruments of robbing the rights of students. In the past, military dictators and other rulers of the day tried to destroy DUCSU’s goodwill and heritage. But all the previous records were broken on Monday.’ the former DUCSU vice president, now president of Communist Party of Bangladesh, said in extreme despair.
‘None can accept Monday’s DUCSU election results that declare the representatives on the basis of fake votes. I condemn those who back stabbed DUCSU’s glorious heritage,’ he said.
Former minister and Workers’ Party president Rashed Khan Menon called it a matter of sadness to watch the allegations about DUCSU elections on TV.
‘I very much expected that the DUCSU elections would be free and fair. But On Monday DUCSU’s image was tarnished. This will generate controversies in future,’ said Menon, who was DUCSU VP in 1963-64.
He was among the student leaders who were in the forefront of education movement against the Sharif Education Commission Report in 1962.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna who was DUCSU VP for two terms, 1979-80 and 1980-81, told New Age that Monday’s ballot stuffing and other irregularities were pre-planned just like the general election held on December 30.
‘Actually, they just snatched the DUCSU election results in a planned way and achieved their goal. This happened once before, but this time all the records had been broken,’ said Manna, now convener of Nagorik Oikya and a key organizer of the main opposition political alliance, Jatiya Oikya Front.
‘I can’t imagine that teachers could do this. Nothing could match such shame. It gives the message – fascism can destroy everything and clings to power so long as they can,’ he said.
Mahfuza Khanam who was elected DUCSU VP for 1967-68 said that the ballot stuffing at Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall, recovery of blank ballot papers from Rokeya Hall and not allowing long voters in queues to vote were grossly unjust.
‘It was uncomfortable not only for the DU but also for the whole nation.’ said Mahfuza who took active part in the movement against the Hamoodur Rahman Education Commission Report.
Mahfuza is currently Asiatic Society president.
Former Ducsu general secretary in 1990-91 Khairul Kabir Khokon termed the DUCSU election as ‘no election’.
Khokon, also an organizer of anti-Ershad movement in late eighties, said Monday’s DUCSU election was ‘one-step below the December 30 general election that saw widespread ballot stuffing.
‘It tarnished the heritage and goodwill of DUCSU. The DU administration worked to advance undue interests of Chattra League, which was unfortunate,’ he said.
Sultan Mohammad Monsur who was elected DUCSU VP for 1989-90 made no comments.