The University Teachers’ Network has demanded exemplary punishment for a Dhaka University (DU) student accused of issuing a gang-rape threat against a female student who recently filed a writ petition in the High Court regarding the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.
The demand was made at a press conference held in front of Madhur Canteen on Tuesday morning. The platform also placed 13 specific demands before the DU administration to ensure a fair and transparent election process.
Reading out the written statement, DU teachers Tahmina Akter and Moshahida Sultana said: “It has been reported that following a candidate’s writ petition in the High Court, a student from the Sociology Department, identified as Ali Hossain, threatened the female candidate with gang rape in a Facebook post. He must face exemplary punishment through due process so that such incidents are not repeated.”
The statement also noted that the absence of clearly defined punishments for violations of the election code of conduct has led to widespread breaches, while the Election Commission has failed to take proper action despite receiving complaints.
Among their key demands, the University Teachers’ Network urged the authorities to ensure an adequate number of polling booths in proportion to the total voter base and to extend the voting hours until 5:00 pm.
They emphasized the need for a transparent and participatory vote-counting process by involving representatives from all concerned parties. The teachers also called for central decisions on the election code of conduct to be made in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner, while preventing bias in the appointment of teachers, officers, and staff for election duties.
In addition, they stressed the importance of addressing cyberbullying, particularly abusive posts and comments directed at DU teachers and students. To facilitate wider participation, the network suggested increasing the number of buses and trips for non-residential students.
They also highlighted the necessity of ensuring that journalists and social media reporters adhere to the election code of conduct, and recommended that all incidents of sexual harassment be referred directly to the university’s anti-sexual harassment cell for resolution.
The Teachers’ Network further announced that, as in the 2019 DUCSU election, they will act as independent and neutral observers in the upcoming polls.
Among those present at the press conference were DU professors Giti Ara Nasreen, Samina Luthfa, Kamrul Hasan Mamun, and Asif Mohammad Shahan, among others.
