SC ends uncertainty, polls to be held as scheduled

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday cleared the way for holding the Dhaka University Central Students' Union election on September 9 as per schedule.

The apex court upheld its chamber judge's previous order that stayed a High Court directive halting the Ducsu election till October 30.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the DU authorities challenging the HC order.

Md Shishir Manir, legal counsel for the DU authorities, told The Daily Star that following the SC order, there is no legal bar for holding the Ducsu election on the scheduled date.

Fahmida Alam, candidate for Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs secretary from the "Aporajeyo '71-Adommo '24" panel, filed an appeal challenging the candidacy of SM Farhad, president of DU Islami Chhatra Shibir and the general secretary candidate of the Oikyabaddho Shikkharthi Jote panel.

She alleged that Farhad was involved with the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.

After the SC passed the order, the Shibir-backed panel and Boishommo Birodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad panel held separate press briefings at Madhur Canteen, expressing satisfaction.

Farhad said, "In this case, no one has lost; since justice has been ensured, everyone has won. No conspiracy will be able to stop Ducsu."

Fahmida too said it was a matter of joy that the Ducsu was not postponed as that was not her objective when filing the appeal.

However, she told The Daily Star that there is still scope to challenge Farhad's candidacy. "I felt it was my responsibility [to challenge it], and that is why I did it. The rest, of course, is a matter for the court."

She said she still thinks that her appeal was valid as per the Ducsu constitution.

After filing her appeal, Fahmida faced rape threats on social media from sociology student Ali Husen on Monday, which drew widespread condemnation.

Following a probe body's recommendation, the DU authorities yesterday suspended Ali Husen for six months.

Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, on its second day of protesting the rape threat, formed a human chain in front of the SC gate.

In the latest development, the university authorities decided to cancel the previously announced three-day closure centring the election. Instead, only polling day will be a holiday for the students.

Chief Returning Officer Prof Zashim Uddin said the number of polling booths has increased and the voting hours have been extended as per students' demands.

Adding that they have prepared for a 100 percent voter turnout, he said, "As per our calculation, each voter will require eight minutes to cast their vote."

Additionally, the university authorities announced additional bus services for voters on polling day.

According to a press release issued yesterday, buses on all regular routes will run as per their usual schedule, while an extra trip will be added on four major routes -- Narsingdi (Wari-Bateshwar), Savar/Nabinagar (Hemanta), Bikrampur (Mawa), and Munshiganj (Idrakpur) -- to ensure the smooth commute of students traveling to the campus to vote.