Dhaka University Central Students' Union, also known by its acronym DUCSU, is the official students' union of the University of Dhaka. Called the second parliament of Bangladesh, DUCSU represents Dhaka University students in the university's decision-making, acts as the voice for students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provides direct services to the student body.
History
It was established in the academic year of 1923-24 as Dhaka University Student Union. Its first constitution was drafted in its general assembly on 30 October 1925. In 1953, its constitution was amended and the union was renamed Dhaka University Central Students' Union. The chancellor of the university acts as the president of the Union while other posts are elected from the students representatives. A teacher acts as the treasurer. The last election was held in 1990. Upon the order from the High Court, an election is scheduled to be held on 11 March 2019.
Role in the politics of Bangladesh
DUCSU is called the second parliament of Bangladesh. Some of the most consequential events in the history of Bangladesh—such as the language movement, six-point demands, 1969's mass uprising—that led to the creation of Bangladesh were led by DUCSU. Even after Bangladesh came into being, DUCSU continued to play a vital role, and contributed to the fall of Ershad's military regime. The importance of elected bodies under DUCSU is considered both in the light of the past role that DUCSU has played in national life, as well as in the transformation of university campus from political to social and cultural spaces.
DUCSU election, 2019
Following a writ petition, the High Court Division of Bangladesh directed Dhaka University to hold DUCSU election in 2018. DUCSU election was scheduled to be held on 11 March 2019. S M Mahfujur Rahman, a professor of International Business Department was appointed as the chief returning officer in accordance with the clause 8(e) of DUCSU constitution. Five returning officers were appointed to assist the chief returning officer. A 7 member disciplinary committee had been formed to overlook disciplinary issues. Though all student organizations except Chhatra League demanded the polling booth to be located outside the residential halls, the DU syndicate decided that the polling booths be in the residential halls.
Nurul Haq Nur of 'Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad' won as vice-president, Golam Rabbani of 'Bangladesh Chhatra League' won as general Secretary and Saddam Hussain also of 'Bangladesh Chhatra League' won as Assistant General Secretary.
List of vice-presidents and general secretaries
DUCSU Law and Politics Review
The DUCSU LPR is an academic journal about law, policy, politics and governance edited by the top most students of the country. DUCSU LPR aimed to enhance the research, writing and editing skills of the students of the University of Dhaka. The DUCSU leadership of 2019-20 aimed at creating University of Dhaka as the central hub for holding public policy debates with national and international policy makers, jurists and academicians and forming a bridge between the academia and the industry. To foster the aim of DUCSU, the Secretary, International Affairs, DUCSU, Shahrima Tanjin Arni constituted a student body to publish the DUCSU Law and Politics Review (DUCSU LPR). Md Azhar Uddin Bhuiyan was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal on the last week of August, 2020. Soon the editorial board consisting of the brightest minds of the University of Dhaka was constituted. With the dissolution of 2019-20 elected committee of DUCSU on 22 June, the editorial board of DUCSU LPR also dissolved on the same date. Later on with the permission of the Dhaka University administration, the editorial board started functioning under a different nomenclature, 'Dhaka University Law and Politics Review' (DU LPR).
Blog and journal
On 22 June 2020, the last day of the tenure of DUCSU 2019–20, DUCSU LPR successfully published the first student edited academic journal in the history of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union. In its near 1-year tenure, DUCSU LPR edited, published and reprinted articles authored by reputed scholars from home and abroad including Maitreesh Ghatak, Mizanur Rahman, Rachel M Heath and Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Bahzad Joarder, Brian Wong etc. Salim Mahmud was the Chief Guest in the launching ceremony of the journal.