DUCSU election: high court drama, student protests, bullying of women key issue
The vote for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election is scheduled to be held on September 9. BM Fahmida Alam, candidate for Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs nominated by the 'Aparajeyo 71, Odomyo 24' panel, filed a writ in the High Court challenging the validity of the candidacy of SM Farhad, General Secretary (GS) candidate nominated by the Oikyoboddho Shikkarti Jote panel of Chhatra Shibir.
A hearing has been scheduled tomorrow (September 3) in the full bench of the Appellate Division for complete settlement of the matter.
Meanwhile, students of the university again held protests today. DUCSU VP candidates Jamal Uddin Mohammad Khalid and Bin Yamin Molla staged a sit-in program in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence in the afternoon. They demanded that the DUCSU election be held on September 9.
In addition, students brought out protest processions from several halls. They said, “If we sit silently because the judgment of the Chamber Judge Court is upheld, an anti-DUCSU verdict may come. Because, in this conspiracy, an unprecedented ‘devil unity’ of cowards and the timid is being observed. DUCSU must be held.”
Bullying of women on social media is emerging as one of the main issues. Yesterday, a student named Ali Hossain posted on Facebook threatening gang rape against the female student who filed the writ. Leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal claimed Ali Hossain is an activist of Shibir. However, Ali Hossain said he has no connection with any political party.
Chhatra Dal Protest
In protest against the ‘controversial’ Facebook post about the female student who filed the writ, the harassment of Chhatra Dal female leaders at Rajshahi University, and cyber bullying of female students, the Dhaka University branch of Chhatra Dal brought out a protest rally.
Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered at TSC today at noon and began the procession. With the procession, the protesters paraded various streets of the university and staged a sit-in in front of the VC office.
Bithi Hasan, convener of Chhatra Dal at Shamsun Nahar Hall, said, “Whenever we protest on any issue, we are harassed. We are subjected to cyber bullying. We are threatened with gang rape. A certain group always wants to suppress us.”
Shibir’s VP candidate Abu Shadik Kayem commented that syndicated propaganda is being run against Shibir centering DUCSU.
He made this comment at a press conference organized by Shibir at Madhur Canteen on Tuesday afternoon.
Shadik said, “Without any proof, the threatening student is labeled as Shibir and the blame is being put on us. Because of one photo on that boy’s profile, he is being called Shibir. Yet there are more than ten posts about Chhatra Dal on his profile. But no one is calling him Chhatra Dal for that. This is a kind of syndicated propaganda.”
Addressing Chhatra Dal, he said, “With the politics of blaming and framing, you are digging your own grave. This will not harm Shibir. Rather, in the future it will be harmful for you.”
GS candidate SM Farhad said, “Politics of shifting blame is going on centering one issue. We have submitted an application to the university administration to take action against the threatening student. In addition, I personally called the victim female student and told her that if she needs any legal assistance, we are ready to provide it."
He said, “Our panel’s female students are constantly being subjected to cyber bullying. Yet we do not see any protest about this."
He then displayed screenshots of various obscene comments made on social media by Chhatra Dal about women.
Shibir’s Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs candidate Fatema Tasnim Jhuma said, “We are seeing our teachers and distinguished persons doing selective protests."
Addressing the teachers, she said, "Are we not your students? Then why are you silent about us?"
Administration forms fact-finding committee
A notice was issued forming a committee regarding the gang rape threat against the writ-filing student.
The notice stated that Dhaka University sociology department student of 2020–21 session and resident of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall, Ali Hossain, issued a gang rape threat on social media to the writ-filing student BM Fahmida Alam. To uncover the truth of the mentioned incident, the DUCSU Code of Conduct Task Force has formed the following two-member fact-finding committee.
Committee convener is Professor Dr. Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq, Department of Information Science and Library Management, Jahangir Alam, Assistant Proctor as member.
The fact-finding committee has been requested to investigate properly and submit a written report within the next three working days.