RAJSHAHI, Oct 13: With the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) elections set for October 16, several student panels have unveiled manifestos packed with ambitious pledges that go far beyond the union's constitutional powers.
University teachers and observers warn that such promises--from building new medical facilities to banning teacher politics--are "unrealistic" and not within the mandate of elected student representatives.
The elections, which also include hall unions and student representatives to the university senate, feature ten panels alongside independent candidates.
So far, five panels, including the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed "Combined Student Alliance," have announced their manifestos; the remaining five, including BNP's student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, are expected to follow soon.
RUCSU's constitution, first adopted in 1962 and amended last year, limits the union's role to organising social and cultural programs, publishing annual magazines, arranging lectures, sports and cultural events, engaging in humanitarian activities, and sending representatives to inter-university and environmental forums. Its duties are primarily social, cultural, and representational--not administrative.
The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel unveiled a 24-point manifesto including pledges outside RUCSU's jurisdiction, such as banning teacher politics, expanding and air-conditioning the central library, converting the medical center into a 20-bed hospital, installing CCTV and streetlights, establishing a women's security cell and helpline, launching electric student transport, building a women's mosque complex, and introducing a teacher evaluation system.
General Secretary candidate Fazle Rabbi Md Fahim Reza defended the manifesto, saying, "The RUCSU constitution is very limited. It doesn't ensure students' democratic rights. If elected, we'll pressure the administration to implement our commitments."
The Chhatra Dal-backed panel promises library expansion, a unified academic calendar, medical center upgrades, new dormitories, and monthly stipends for non-residential students. They also propose declaring February 18--when martyr Dr Shamsuzzoha was killed--as National Teachers' Day.
Vice President candidate Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir said, "Besides RUCSU's constitutional duties, we've added extra goals. We'll try to realize them through pressure and negotiation with the administration."
Other panels, including "RUCSU for Radical Change," "Anti-Dominance Unity," Islami Chhatra Andolan-backed "Conscious Student Council," and "Universal Student Union," have proposed measures ranging from forming audit teams for teacher accountability to making the university fully residential, digitalizing administrative processes, and creating thousands of on-campus jobs.
