Rajshahi University vice-chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib on Monday said that the election roadmap to the university central student union could be declared within February.
鈥楢fter taking charge of the office on September 5, we announced to hold the Rajshahi University Central Students鈥� Union election within five months. But we could not hold the election with the stipulated time for some unexpected issues, including the ward quota reform issue,鈥� said Saleh Hasan Naqib.
The election roadmap to the RUCSU may be published within this month, he mentioned.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a dialogue titled RUCSU Dialogue: Reform and Election at the RU Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Senate Building.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Democracy International, the University Debating Forum, Student Rights Association and the Vocal Student Network.
Urging everyone to ensure a fair environment for RUCSU election, Professor Naqib said that the cooperation of students was a must for arranging a fair election.
鈥業f we have 100 democratic-minded teachers and 1,000 students who practice free-thought outside political organisations, we will be able to conduct the RUCSU election smoothly,鈥� he hoped.
At the dialogue, Noman Imtiaz, president of Rajshahi University Journalists鈥� Association, said that the vice-chancellor, by virtue of his position, was president of RUCSU.
鈥楬e has the authority to expel any member or even the entire committee. Since RUCSU is described as a platform for practicing democracy, this excessive power of the VC goes against the principles of democratic practice.鈥�
He added that therefore, this power of the VC should be revised.
Among others, RUCSU treasurer Professor Setaur Rahman, RU student adviser Professor Amirul Islam Kanak, public administration professor Parvez Azharul Haque and Democracy International deputy director Arafat Ali Siddique, among others, spoke at the dialogue.
