Rajshahi University unit leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Union on Tuesday demanded amendment of the university’s central students’ constitution to establish balance of power between the president and the elected body.
They also demanded cancellation of three sub-sections of article seven of the constitution those provided the president with supreme authority.
The sub-sections state - (i) in absence of the vice-chancellor from the station, the officer who will remain in charge of the office of the vice-chancellor will be deemed to be the president of the Union, (ii) the president will have the power, to dismiss any office bearer or member of the executive committee or to dissolve the executive committee as a whole and call a fresh election or take such other action as he thinks fit for the running of the union, and (iii) the president will also have the authority to suspend the union for a period as he thinks fit, subject to the approval of the syndicate of the university.
They also submitted a 13-point demand to the university authorities during a meeting with RUCSU discussion committee, headed by the university proctor Professor Lutfor Rahman.
Their other demands include declaring election schedule soon, setting up of polling centres at the academic buildings, formation of a committee to ensure coexistence of all student organisations on the campus, formation of a five-member election commission after holding discussion with the active student’s organisations, updating voters’ list, not allowing students of evening courses as voter and candidate, and formatting of an observation committee with liable teachers, students and students organisations’ representatives.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union president Shakila Khatun told New Age that the existing three sub-sections in the article seven were against the democracy as those sections gave supreme power to the vice-chancellor as the president of the students’ union which exceeded the power of the elected representatives.
‘There should be a balance of power between the president and the elected representatives,’ she added.
RU proctor Professor Lutfor Rahman told New Age that they would take necessary steps to meet their demands after holding discussion with university authorities.
Source: UNB
