D. U. elections’ 79

28 October 1979
Weekly New Nation

For many reasons the D. U. Elections 79 bear great significance at national and academic level in the country. Holding of such kind of elections in a free, fair, peaceful, accommodative, co-operative atmosphere certainly stands beyond compare in the long history of D. U. But who are to be praised for such successes? Or to whom do the credits go? Is it student political organization or the ruling party or the administration? And what are the reasons that made the field easier for the victory of Charta League of J.S.D. both at DUCSU & in 7 (seven) Halls? Or what impact will it have on our national politics? Let us make a careful penetration that helped set the example. In fact, the political developments in the Campus from 1971-1979 can be categorized into three parts.

The first part consisted of events from 1972 to 1973 during which the first elections to DUCSU and Hall Unions the in the soil of free and sovereign Bangladesh were held. This was marked with extreme tensions because of immediate post-liberation violence and inherent problems thereto. However, elections were held peacefully as far as possible. The special characteristics of elections during this period were:

· There was less conflict and much understanding among different student groups and the contesting parties were few in number.

· All of them took part in liberation struggle, hence spirit of nation-building and state-building were two essential issues before them.

· All of the anti-liberation forces including their student organizations were politically banned. So the ideology and fundamental state principles as enunciated in the original constitution of 1972 were only goals before them.

Under these circumstances, Chatra Union, which played vital roles in liberation struggle and which had very influential image for its words and deeds, got the panel elected at DUCSU and in Halls.

The second phase began in 1972 and ended in 1973. During this period Chatra League was divided into two parts, one was led by A.S.M. Rob and Shahajahan Siraj while the other was taken over by Nur-a-Alam Siddique and Abdul .Kudus Makhon. This sudden and unexpected storm in the politics has very serious effect on student politics. However, under serious tension and horrible situation D.U. Elections 1972-73 for the second time in Bangladesh were held. But ballot boxes were hijacked and election results remained undeclared throwing student politic and student politicians into great despair and darkness. Even Chhatra Union failed to maintain its previous position in D.U. It is reportedly heard and strongly believed that verdict of the ballot went in favor of Chhatra league of J.S.D the then newly organized political party. Here one thing was very much remarkable that violence and disturbance primarily and solely came from the student organization of the then ruling party. Besides these, the then V.C. was openly biased to a particular student group. And naturally, fair and peaceful elections were beyond imaginations.

The third stage started from 1973 and culminated through the holding of third elections to DUCSU and Hall Unions in 1979. However, from 1973 to 1975 many things happened in the country. BAKSAL was created and one party system introduced in the country through the 4^th Amendment to the original Constitution of 1972. Students were managed to work as one of the 4^th wing of BAKSAL. After the great change of 1975, the nation embraced new firmament, which not only abolished the BAKSALI system but also brought about some changes in state principles. During this period, referendum, Presidential election, the first of its Kind in sub-continent, were held under Martial Law, which paved way for Ziaur Rahman to have support for 19-points programme and to be elected as the President of the country. Politics from parlor to open was revived. New party B.N.P. along with its student organization namely J.S.D. was on the picture and special features of this period are:

· Splits, groupings and re-groupings of political parties, which were immediately followed by the birth of new student political organizations also.

· Political and economic rehabilitation of anti-liberation forces were arranged which had their effect on student politics.

· There were less understanding and much conflict among student groups and the contesting parties were many in number.

Keeping all these in mind, elections to the student bodies in different universities (excepting Rajshahi University, which is faced with serious plights) were held almost duly but it came to light from reliable sources that difference of opinions in the cabinet for holding the same in Dacca University were sharp and acute. Because Dacca University

is the centre for student politics, and still appears to be the measuring rod of the strength of national political parties. In fact, a kind of apprehension hunted the very minds of a section of the party in power that if there were elections JCD, students’ wing of BNP, could not be able to secure any viable position in the campus that would eventually put BNP into more troubles and tensions.

But other section of the ruling party held the view in a fix that the date of elections should be announced as early as possible since it would remove tensions, frustrations etc in the realm of student politics. President Ziaur Rahman, Prime Minister Shah Azizur Rahman and Home Minister Mustafizur Rahman sided strongly with this. Vice .Chancellor Dacca University Prof. Dr. Falul Halim Chowdhury also insisted and played in the similar vein and mode. It was further a general demand of the opposition political parties and their student organizations. Finally, date for elections was scheduled on 24 July 1979, although JCD threatened just a game of politics indeed that it would not take part in the said elections unless and until its five points were met with.

Now, if we objectively analyze the conditions of the contesting students’ organizations parties, which took part in the elections, we find that Chatra League of Awami League (Malek) was suffering severely because----

· It could not clearly project its objectives and goals, which were very much ambiguous before student community;

· b. The statements and speeches of Awami League leaders at the time of elections in different corners of the country had very bad effects on student community since they were openly advocating the re-establishment of BAKSAL;

· c. The previous deeds and words of Chatra League were wide- apart from their present approach full of deceit and distrust;

· d. Internal cliques weakened the party to some extent also, as a result of which they could not lead politics in Dacca University; and

· e. the division of Awami League mainly into two i.e. Awami League (Malek) and Awami League (Mizan) also bifurcated their strength both at national and in academic levels.It is true that chatra league is today, from the organizational point of view, weaker than that of 1971-72. Further it badly lacked political leadership in the campus in particular. Its appeal to and support in girl-students community have also decreased.

Islamic Chatra Shibir, students’ wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has showed its organizational strength greatly because of their cadre system of politics. Though the party secured only one seat in S.M. Hall, yet its overall results indicate that it may, in future, emerge as a vital force at D.U. and in student politics of the country.

J.C.D. of B.N.P in spite of its being the newest in the field proved its onward march through striking a partial success in D.U. elections ‘79. Other parties could not fare at all because of their lack of supports and organizational strengths.

But for Chatra League of J.S.D. the following factors were almost full of life for its victory:

· Massive student supports for J.S.D;

· Personal image of M.R. Manna and Aktaruzzaman;

· Entry of vigorous and promising students into the party;

· Organizational strength;

· Lack of leadership and immediate weakness of other parties accompanied by splits and cliques also paved the way for such winning ; and

· Government policy to remove Awami- Baksal and its student wing from the political scene in the country helped this party.

It is obvious, however, each and every contesting party, the DU administration and the ruling party concertedly and whole-heartedly made attempts to make the elections a success and, of course, credits go to all and not to any singular agency. And the factors that helped Chatra League of J.S.D. to win are also clear and now let us wait and see what impact DUCSU may set and leave in the coming days.