Jucsu leaders can remain in dorms after studentship ends: JU

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has exempted elected representatives of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) and hall unions from the university's existing residential hall policy, allowing them to remain in dormitories until the end of their terms even after their regular studentship expires.

The decision, announced in a notice signed by Acting Registrar ABM Azizur Rahman last night, has drawn criticism from a section of Jucsu members and leaders of several student organisations, who described it as an unprecedented departure from university regulations.

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The notice states that elected representatives of Jucsu and hall unions will be allowed to reside in their allocated residential halls until the expiry of their respective terms.

However, Article 5(Ta) of the university's Students' Discipline Ordinance-2018 requires undergraduate and postgraduate students to vacate their residential halls within seven days of completing their final examinations.

According to the Office of the Controller of Examinations, students are allowed a maximum of six years to complete a four-year bachelor's programme and two years to complete a one-year master's programme. Those who fail to complete their studies within these limits lose their regular studentship.

University officials and Jucsu leaders said no formal proposal or written request had been submitted seeking permission for elected representatives to remain in residential halls after their studentship expired.

The issue came under scrutiny after Jucsu Vice-President Abdur Rashid Zitu continued residing in his hall for several months despite the expiry of his regular studentship. In contrast, Jucsu General Secretary Md Mazharul Islam vacated his hall in June after losing his studentship. The administration issued the new notice amid growing discussion on campus over Zitu's continued residence.

Officials at the Controller of Examinations' Office said Zitu, a student of the 2017-18 session (47th batch) at the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture, intentionally left one postgraduate course incomplete to retain his studentship ahead of the Jucsu election.

Under university rules, he was allowed to sit the examination with the following batch (48th). However, although that batch sat its master's examinations in February this year, Zitu did not take the remaining examination, resulting in the expiry of his regular studentship, the officials said.

"The order, issued without amending the constitution, is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of Jucsu. It effectively creates a mechanism to legitimise the unauthorised occupation of residential halls. We strongly protest this unilateral decision by the administration," Jucsu General Secretary Md Mazharul Islam said.

Jucsu Social Welfare Secretary Ahsan Labib wrote in a Facebook post that elected representatives should also vacate residential halls after their studentship ends, like all other students.

"It is difficult to understand under which law a separate rule has been introduced for the students' union," he wrote.

Jatiya Chhatra Shakti's JU unit president Zia Uddin Ayan questioned whether the administration had hastily amended the rule solely to legitimise the vice-president's continued stay in the hall after media reports highlighted the issue.

Leaders of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also criticised the decision.

Its convener, Jahir Uddin Mohammad Babor, said in a Facebook post that Jucsu leaders themselves had acknowledged they had not sought such a facility from the administration.

"Yet when Chhatra Dal members whose studentship had expired sought fair treatment, their belongings were thrown out of residential halls. The administration delays addressing our legitimate demands, but grants privileges to JUCSU without any request," he said.

Repeated attempts to contact Vice-President Abdur Rashid Zitu by phone were unsuccessful. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message seeking comment.

JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan also could not be reached for comment despite repeated phone calls.

Acting Registrar ABM Azizur Rahman said the decision had been approved at a recent administrative meeting.

"No written request was submitted by Jucsu regarding this matter," he said.