Editorial
Towards healthy student politics
Ducsu elections should be held at the earliest
The High Court rule upon the government and the University of Dhaka to hold Ducsu elections comes as a welcome measure towards improving democracy in student politics. Indeed, the process whereby the rule was issued -- in response to a writ petition filed by 25 of the university's students claiming they were being deprived of their democratic rights as the elections have not been held in 20 years -- is reflective of the spirit of the move.
Student politics as it now stands is less to do with the general students' welfare and is more about the ruling party's -- whichever party may be in power -- student wing controlling the campus. Where student leaders and activists should be striving to ensure students' rights, such as to accommodation, proper food in canteens and dormitories, rich libraries, etc., an ageing leadership comprised mostly of non-students are instead busy in turf wars, illegal tenders and businesses, possession of weapons and so on. In fact, it is this so-called 'student politics' that has been responsible for much of the violence on campus which has left students themselves injured and even dead, and for the closures causing the notorious session jams at public universities.
In this context, Ducsu could be a truly representative student body, the priority of which would be the welfare of all students, and not those with particular party leanings. It would be a forum for voicing the real needs of genuine students. It would be the platform from which healthy politics could be practised and, in the process, create the future leaders of the nation.
The writ petition filed and the HC's response are both steps in the right direction. We hope action will soon be taken by the relevant authorities and the coast cleared for the Ducsu elections to be held as soon as possible. The practice of healthy politics and democracy at the most prestigious educational institutional of the country will act as a guiding light for the political culture and leadership of the nation overall.
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