Students of Rajshahi University on Monday continued their demonstrations, demanding the announcement of a complete election schedule for the university central students’ union elections, including electoral codes of conduct and a draft voter list.
They organised the rally under the banner of RU Student Alliance at the Paris Road.
Addressing the human chain, SM Salman Sabbir, president of Sochchar Students’ 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 authorities of the university.
He said that while taking charge on September 5, vice-chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib announced that they would hold the RUCSU polls within the next five months.
The vice chancellor also 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. ‘But the university authorities failed to publish the code of electoral conduct and the draft voter list within the stipulated time,’ he added.
Fahim Reza, a former coordinator of the Students Movement Against Discrimination, said that there had been a lack of awareness and initiative from the administration, student bodies, and political groups on RUCSU poll issue.
Expressing solidarity with the students’ movement, law department professor Morshedul Islam said that they desired a state system based on trust, justice and truth. ‘The university administration must move away from out-dated and opaque practices.’
The speakers also called on the university administration to ensure full residential facilities for all students. In the interim, they demanded housing allowances as compensation for those without dormitory access.
They further vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands were met.
On Sunday, the students formed a human chain on the university Paris Road, demanding the announcement of a complete election schedule for the university central students’ union elections.
They also held a press conference on May 6 with the same demand.