The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections have been historically significant for student activism and democratic values at Dhaka University. Despite the university’s legacy of democratic movements, the irregularity of DUCSU elections is apparent. Out of the 37 total elections in its 102-year history, only seven have taken place since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, with the latest one occurring after a nearly three-decade gap.
The root cause of this inconsistency can be traced back to the DUCSU constitution and the 1973 Dhaka University Order, which do not mandate a fixed schedule for regular elections. Article 8(e) of the DUCSU constitution grants the vice-chancellor, who also acts as the ex-officio DUCSU president, the authority to determine election dates. Consequently, the absence of elections, while undemocratic, does not technically violate the constitution.
Furthermore, Article 6(c) specifies that elected representatives serve for a year, with a possible 90-day extension. Once this term expires, their positions become vacant, irrespective of whether new elections are held. This legal gap allows for prolonged inaction, highlighting how the DUCSU constitution allows administrative discretion over democratic processes.
According to the Dhaka University Order of 1973, student representation is limited to the Senate, among the university’s ten governing bodies. However, even this representation is constrained. Article 20(1)(L) permits five DUCSU-nominated members to join the Senate, but their appointment is subject to the vice-chancellor’s discretion, undermining accountability to the student body.
The lack of student empowerment is evident, as demonstrated in the controversial 2019 DUCSU polls where four out of the five Senate nominees had affiliations with the ruling party’s student wing. Such unilateral selections diminish the essence of student representation and reinforce partisan control over student affairs.
The existing provisions in the DUCSU constitution and the Dhaka University Order do not empower students for decision-making, allowing the vice-chancellor to appoint and dismiss DUCSU representatives.
To address these democratic deficits, amendments to the governing structure are necessary. Student organizations advocate for the removal of administrators from executive roles in student unions, proposing direct elections for all DUCSU and hall union positions. A suggested model includes an advisory council comprising various stakeholders, balancing oversight and student autonomy for inclusive governance.
Some suggest prioritizing elections over reforms. However, the current framework lacks provisions for elected student bodies to propose changes, hindering meaningful progress. Implementing foundational reforms to democratize DUCSU is crucial to combat undemocratic control.
Comprehensive constitutional reforms are essential to restore DUCSU as a platform for student empowerment. The interim administration, with relatively neutral oversight, presents an opportunity for the DU Syndicate to lead these reforms, engaging all stakeholders in redesigning DUCSU as a functional student parliament.
Despite the recent announcement of the next DUCSU election schedule, concerns persist over maladministration and inadequate reform efforts, potentially obstructing the restoration of democratic processes within DU’s student community.