Leftists to uproot ‘occupation, muscle power’

Leftist panel has pledged to turn the Dhaka University (DU) into an occupation and muscle power free campus for upholding democratic rights of all students if it wins the Ducsu polls scheduled for Monday.

The combined panel of Pragatisheel Chhatra Jote and Samrajjobad Birodhi Chhatra Oikya--Pragatisheel Chhatra Oikya--placed their 16-point charter at a press conference on the university campus today.

They have also promised to address the issue of cancelling the “evening law” for the female students and against the “illegal” hike of fees being realised by the hall and department authorities.

The highlight of their charter is to press the authorities to ensure autonomy of the DU and to stop “appointment of teachers based on political consideration” in their manifesto unveiled for Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) election.

Their other point includes ensuring freedom of expression and allotment pf seat to the students from first-year and stopping the “guest and gono-room” culture.

Budgetary allocation in education and research sectors has to be increased and the library should be kept remain open for 24 hours, the panel stated in their manifesto.

Buying of new bus, increasing the number of bus and routes and keeping the transportation service open till 10:00pm were also among their pledges. 

Besides, holding debate competition and cultural programme on different special occasions was emphasised in the charter.

They also demanded that the modern and science-based education system to be introduced for boosting students’ presence in the classroom, stopping evaluation on the basis of attendance in classes and to introduce Teachers’ Evaluation System, if they are elected in the election.

The platform said they would raise the demand so that a student can complete all academic activities through online.

Accommodation, transportation, library modernisation and expansion, medical facilities, and introducing modern education system were also the focal points of their manifesto.

Liton Nandi, vice-president candidate of the Ducsu polls, Faisal Mahmud, general secretary candidate, and other candidates of the leftist panel were present while rolling out of the election pledges.