CU senate poll long overdue
New faces are not getting opportunities to become members of Chittagong University (CU) Senate as the election to it is not being held since long due to apathy of the university authorities.
Sources in the university said the senate of CU is being run by the registered graduate representatives elected 26 years back and the teachers' representatives elected 11 years ago. But, the tenure of the elected representatives in these two categories is three years.
Members of the senate, the highest policy-making body, are also putting emphasis on holding election in these two categories (registered graduate and teachers representatives) to accommodate the freshers.
Election to the registered graduate category was held on November 2 in 1986 and teachers' category on February 10 in 2001, university sources said.
Freshers are being deprived of their rights due to the election not being held for a long time, said senate member Prof Mansur Uddin Ahmad.
Ahmad, also a former dean, said the election to the two categories of senate should be arranged immediately.
Prof ANM Munir Ahmad, also a senate member, alleged that the university authorities are not holding the senate election for fear of losing the majority in the senate.
They show apathy in this regard, he said.
With boldness, the authorities should come forward in holding the election as it is essential for developing leadership qualities, Munir, also chairman of the political science department, said.
The university sources said there are 86 members in the senate in seven categories.
Of the four categories, the government nominates five officials, the speaker nominates five parliament members, the chancellor nominates five noted educationists and the university syndicate nominates five members from various research institutions. In these categories, new members are being nominated on a regular basis.
A total of 58 representatives -- 25 in registered graduate category and 33 in teachers' representatives' category -- are elected. But in these two categories election is not being held for long.
Moreover, the VC, pro-VC and the chairman of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Comilla, are ex-officio members of the senate. But there are also seats for five student representatives in the senate, nominated by CU Central Students Union (Cucsu). But, the election to Cucsu is not being held for more than 22 years too.
Mohammad Faridul Alam, chairman of the international relations department, said the fact that the election to the senate is not being held since long is very much regretful. It is a clear violation of Chittagong University Act -1973, he said.
The election to the senate should be held regularly, he said, adding that through this practice new leadership will come up, which is necessary for the betterment of the university as well as the country.
Prof Dr Mozaffar Ahmad Chowdhury, president of Chittagong University Teachers' Association (Cuta), also put emphasis on holding the elections to the senate as well as Cucsu immediately.
Prof Anwarul Azim Arif, vice-chancellor of CU, said election to the teachers' representatives of senate will be arranged soon.
After holding the election to the teachers' representatives, initiatives will be taken to hold the election to the registered graduate representatives, the CU VC added.
He said they also have a plan to hold the election to the Cucsu in due time.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments