RU approves RUCSU constitution, forms election commission
Rajshahi University (RU)administration has approved the amended constitution of its Rajshahi University Central Students Union (RUCSU) and formed a seven-member election commission to oversee the long-awaited student body elections.
The RU administration finalized the decision in its 538th meeting of the syndicate, the highest policy-making body of the university, on April 15 last.
According to the university sources, Prof Amzad Hossain of the Department of Finance has been made chief election commissioner.
Other commissioners are: Syndicate member Prof Nizam Uddin, College Inspector Prof Nazrul Islam, Director of Mental Health Centre Prof Enamul Haque, Prof Abdul Hannan of the Department of Law, Prof Aminul Haque of the Department of Statistics and Prof Mostofa Kamal Akanda of the Department of Anthropology.
Earlier in February last, the administration formulated a roadmap to hold RUCSU elections in June after a long gap of around 36 years.
"We have already formulated a roadmap for the election. We are very much optimistic about holding the election at the end of June this year", said RU Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Saleh Hassan Naquib while talking to BSS here Wednesday.
As per the election roadmap, teachers and students submitted suggestions and opinions on the draft amendments to the RUCSU regulations within the stipulated March 28 last.
Prof Naquib said the final RUCSU election regulations and code of electoral conduct were published on April 13.
The draft voter list will 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.
The election is planned for the third or fourth week of June, he added.
RU sources said the RUCSU was founded in 1963 as a sequel to a strong demand from the student organisations.
Despite having the provision for holding the polls annually as per the RUCSU constitution, the election to the student union has remained stopped from the academic year 1989-90.
A total of 26 RUCSU polls have been held to date. At present the RUCSU building has turned into a cultural centre for different RU organisations.
The last RUCSU election was held in 1989 in which Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) candidate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed was elected as Vice-president (VP) and JSD Chhatra League candidate Ruhul Kuddus Babu was the General Secretary (GS).