Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad鈥檚 panel 鈥楤aishamyabirodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad鈥� on Saturday announced its manifesto for the Dhaka University Central Students鈥� Union elections.
The panel unveiled an eight-point proposal, a 50-point manifesto covering political, academic and administrative reforms, student welfare, dignity, culture and sports, career and skill development, and technology.
The announcement was made by the panel鈥檚 vice-president candidate Abdul Kader, general secretary candidate Abu Baker Majumdar and assistant general secretary candidate Ashrefa Khatun, at a press conference held in front Madhu鈥檚 Canteen on the campus.
Saturday was the fifth day of the DUCSU election campaign.
鈥榃e want a DUCSU that will defend students鈥� freedom, dignity and rights and will remain vocal against authoritarianism and discrimination,鈥� Abdul Kader said.
The manifesto鈥檚 political commitments include holding regular DUCSU elections, ending cadre-based politics, banning national political rehearsals on campus, and bringing to justice those who carried out repression on students during the fascist regimes, including that during the July uprising.
The academic and administrative reforms include democratic restructuring, transparent recruitment, one-stop service, paperless administration, digital classrooms, modernised laboratories, teacher evaluation, new study spaces, credit transfer facilities and comprehensive campus security with CCTV coverage.
For student welfare, the panel pledged a 鈥榦ne card all services鈥� scheme, one student one seat policy, subsidised housing and attachments to resolve accommodation crisis, health insurance, modernised medical centre, and interest-free laptop loans.
Under student dignity, it promised measures against moral policing over attire, such as beard, cap, hijab or burqa, as well as protection from discrimination against students from different religions, ethnic groups and madrasa backgrounds.
For women students, the proposals include expanded sports facilities in women鈥檚 halls, 24-hour ambulance service, extended prayer spaces, residential hall access for non-resident women, and making public spaces more women-friendly.
Besides, candidates from different panels and independent ones visited residential halls from Saturday morning seeking votes and distributing leaflets room to room.
Many pledged solutions to the accommodation crisis and improvement in food quality.
This year, campaign materials imitating currency notes have drawn attention, with such leaflets circulating on Facebook groups of Dhaka University.
Classes and examinations of all departments will remain suspended between September 7 and 10 due to the DUCSU elections, according to a notice signed by acting registrar Munshi Shams Uddin Ahmed on Saturday.
The DUCSU elections are scheduled for September 9. The previous polls were held on March 11, 2019, after a 28-year hiatus.
