Rajshahi University students’ union term ends

The term of the current executive committee of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), which resumed activities after a 35-year hiatus, formally ended yesterday, Monday (October 26).

However, the university administration has yet to begin any visible preparations or formal discussions on the next RUCSU election, leaving students deeply uncertain about what comes next.

While the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) constitution allows a three-month extension under special circumstances, RUCSU rules contain no such provision. Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Faridul Islam, who is also RUCSU president, confirmed that the current union’s term definitively ended yesterday.

“Our RUCSU constitution contains no provision or article allowing the committee’s term to be extended. Under the rules, the current union’s term has ended. The RUCSU election was held after a long gap of 35 years, and we too want this continuity to be maintained. We will decide the next steps after reviewing the overall situation and consulting the relevant stakeholders. A new election will be held once conditions on campus are fully favourable,” the vice-chancellor said.

The RUCSU and hall union elections took place amid widespread enthusiasm on October 16 last year, ending three and a half decades of inactivity. Nine panels contested 23 posts. The Chhatra Shibir-backed “Sammilita Shikkharthi Jote” won a sweeping victory, securing 20 posts, including vice-president and assistant general secretary. The elected representatives formally took their oaths 10 days later, on October 26 last year.

Historical records show that the students’ union began its journey in 1957 as “RASU” but remained suspended from 1958 to 1962 because of military rule. It was renamed “RUCSU” in 1962, and a total of 14 elections were held up to 1989. After remaining inactive for 35 years, it resumed activities last year.

With the current union’s term over and no new election schedule announced, students have called for RUCSU to remain active. RUCSU General Secretary (GS) Salahuddin Ammar said: “We have discussed in detail at our various sessions the need to hold regular RUCSU elections in the future. Regular RUCSU elections must continue. Since there is no scope to extend the term, it is urgent to form an election commission or complete the necessary constitutional amendments without delay. We now consider securing a new RUCSU election within the next month our main responsibility.”

Assessing his time in office, RUCSU Assistant General Secretary (AGS) SM Salman Sabbir said: “Our main achievement is making RUCSU a reality after 35 years and completing our term without engaging in extortion, tender manipulation, eating for free at halls or abusing political power. Despite our lack of experience, we tried to do as much as possible in the interests of ordinary students.”