A demand has been raised to stop political party based student politics in university campuses all over Bangladesh and to form campus-based regular student union elections. The students are blaming the excessive use of power and various misdeeds done by the political party student wings.
The students of Jagannath University (JnU) have also raised the demand of stopping student politics and student union elections. Following the demands of the students, the treasurer of the university has verbally announced the closure of student politics. Apart from this, he also said to form a committee to decide on the student union according to the ultimatum announced by the students.
Earlier in 2019, the students protested for the formation of student unions and elections in the university. At that time, in view of the demands of the students, the draft rules for the election of the student union were also formulated. However, it did not see the light of day during the Covid pandemic.
The students have demanded necessary steps to be taken to overcome the legal implications of the university to conduct student union elections.
In this regard, Masud Rana, a student of physics department, said, “The biggest place for practicing student politics is student union. Through JnUCSU, there will be a great opportunity to practice democracy in the campus and future leadership will emerge from among the students. As we don't have a student union act in Jagannath University, this legislation should be passed from the policy makers through the Syndicate as soon as possible. For the welfare of students, the JnUCSU Act will open the way for free politics for students.”
Another student named Naima Akhtar Rita said, “We have already seen the negative side of political party-based student wings’ politics in the campuses. Therefore, political party-based student politics must be banned from all educational institutions. In that case there should be a student union to talk about the rights of the students. JnUCSU election is possible within a month by enacting the JnUCSU Act and its constitution, after the appointment of Vice-chancellor in Jagannath University. But for that, the goodwill of the administration is required.”
The convener of the law amendment committee for the election of the student union in the university was Professor Dr. Sarkar Ali Akkas of the Law department of the university. Regarding the legal complications, the professor said, “There is not much legal problem in giving election to the JnUCSU. A separate rule can be aligned with the rules of our university.”
However, the treasurer of the university, Professor Dr. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury said, “The students' demands are reasonable. We don't have a vice chancellor now. We will start action on the issue once the VC is appointed.”
