A group of students of Rajshahi University on Monday demanded publication of the draft voter list for the university鈥檚 central students鈥� union elections within the next three days.
They came up with the demand while addressing a press conference in front of the RUCSU building on the university.
Addressing the press conference, SM Salman Sabbir, president of Sochchar Students鈥� Network RU unit, said that students had been demanding the RUCSU polls for the past 36 years, but they were denied their political right by the previous university authorities.
One of the nine-point of demand made during the July mass uprising was holding the RUCSU elections to eliminate the party-based blind political activities on the campus, mentioned Sabbir.
He also said that the RU authorities announced an election roadmap to hold the long-stalled election in June, and they were scheduled to publish code of electoral conduct on April 13, and draft voter list on April 28.
鈥楤ut the university authorities failed to publish the code of electoral conduct and the draft voter list within the stipulated time for their 鈥渜uestionable role鈥� in implementing the roadmap,鈥� he said, adding that they believed the delay in publishing the code of electoral conduct and the draft voter list was intentional.
Sabbir also noted that although the university authorities formed the RUCSU election commission on April 16, the commission was yet to hold any single meeting. 鈥業t proved that the university authorities are intentionally trying to delay the elections.鈥�
He urged the university authorities to publish the draft voter list within the next three days and declare the election schedule within the next seven days after consulting with all stakeholders.
Sabbir also urged the university authorities to impose a restriction on the entry of outsiders and limit motorcycle movement on campus to ensure security of students and teachers.
Among others, former RU coordinators of Student Movement Against Discrimination Mehedi Sajib, Salahuddin Ammar, Fazle Rabbi, Fahim Reza, Akil bin Taleb, Tasin Khan, Mahayer Islam, Fauzia Nawrin and MD Ataullah were present at the press conference.
Earlier on February 27, the RU authorities announced a roadmap for the RUCSU election, with the possible date of holding the election in the third or fourth week of June.
As per the roadmap, the draft voter list was supposed to be released on April 28, followed by the final voter list on May 13. Nomination papers for interested candidates will be distributed on May 15, with the submission deadline set for May 19.
After scrutiny and verification, the preliminary list of candidates will be announced on May 22. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until May 25, and the final list of candidates will be published on May 27.