The failure of university authorities to hold election of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU)—violating the express provisions of Articles 4 and 20 of the Dhaka University Order, 1973 (President's Order No 11 of 1973) and the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 27 of the constitution—for 27 years now is completely incomprehensible. What is the point of having rules then? How can democracy be said to exist without any election? And yet, what is most ironic is that this most prestigious student body has seen no election precisely since Bangladesh's ascent to democracy in 1991.

In March this year, the high court had even directed the vice chancellor, registrar, proctor, treasurer and education secretary of Dhaka University to show causes as to why "their failure or inaction in discharging their duties to hold DUCSU election for the last" 27 years "should not be declared illegal." Disappointingly, similar to the case of another HC directive back in 2012, university authorities have not responded as of yet.

What is worse is that the HC had even directed university authorities to hold polls within a stipulated timeframe, which students too are now demanding. Which begs another question, why should students have to demand that the university comply with the directive? Besides politics, isn't the point of having DUCSU to ensure the welfare of students via the arrangement of extra-curricular activities, etc? Then what example is the university looking to set?

We urge university authorities to comply with the HC directive, wishes of its students and its own regulations by holding DUCSU polls immediately.