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.