A Year On, Rajshahi University's Five Senate Student Representatives Still Not Sworn In, Top Forum Without a Session for a Decade

A year after Rajshahi University held its central students' union (Rucsu), hall union and Senate student representative elections on 16 October 2025, ending a deadlock of 35 years, the five student representatives to the Senate have still not been sworn in.

Although the law requires a session to be convened at least once a year, the university's highest policy-making forum has remained ineffective for almost a decade. Rucsu's term has already ended, yet the Senate session has still not seen the light of day.

The holding of a session is hanging in the balance amid a quorum crisis in the Senate, complications over membership and questions about the administration's goodwill. The other three autonomous universities in the country — Dhaka, Jahangirnagar and Chittagong — held Senate sessions this year, but Rajshahi University is a complete exception. This has created fresh discussion and criticism over the elected representatives' chance to perform their duties, the university's policy-making work and the administration's role.

University sources said 58 candidates contested the Senate representative posts in that election. Three were elected from the Shibir-backed 'Sommilito Shikkharthi Jote' and two from an independent panel. The elected representatives are Rucsu VP Mostakur Rahman Zahid, GS Salahuddin Ammar, AGS Salman Sabbir, Fazle Rabbi Md Fahim Reza and Akil Bin Taleb.

Under Rajshahi University's 1973 Ordinance, the current elected representatives will be considered Senate representatives until the next election is held. They will also serve for one year after taking oath.

Section 21 of that Ordinance requires a Senate session to be convened at least once a year. But the last Senate session at Rajshahi University was held on 19 May 2016. Before that, after the university's 20th Senate session on 28 and 29 June 2001, the 21st session was held on 18 May 2015 after a long break of 14 years. After the 22nd session on 19 May 2016, no further session has been held. As a result, the university has been running without a Senate session for almost a decade.

This important policy-making forum decides matters such as the election of the vice-chancellor, approval of the budget, amendment of the university's laws and the opening of new departments or institutes.

Asked about it, Senate student representative Fazle Rabbi Md Fahim Reza said: 'In the past year we have had two administrations. Both administrations have been indifferent about making the Senate functional. Their work has been limited to giving assurances. We had hoped that we would get a Senate session through table negotiation, without any kind of movement or struggle. But we have seen no goodwill from the administration. The five of us elected have held various discussions; three of us could not give full attention to the Senate for so long because we are Rucsu members. We will move towards a democratic movement very soon.'

Rucsu GS and Senate representative Salahuddin Ammar said: 'We are talking to the administration again and again to make the Senate functional. The current administration has asked us for about a month's time. We know of a big limitation, that there are many members from the Awami era in the Senate. If a session is called without them, they could appeal to the Supreme Court and get that Senate session cancelled. But these can be solved if one wants. The administration is not sincere enough about this matter. In any case, we will make the Senate functional.'

Rucsu VP and Senate member Mostakur Rahman Zahid said: 'As three of us from the Rucsu panel are Senate members, we have spoken about the Senate at every meeting. Besides, the five of us have met the administration separately countless times. Both administrations have shown us various reasons. I think the main reason the administration does not want to hold a Senate session is that they will not be able to accept the decisions taken in the Senate. The administration will consider them interference.'

He also said: 'The administration says your term will last until one year after you take oath. But we were not elected from among officials and employees — are we going to stay on campus for our whole lives? Many have finished their studies, they will leave. The administration has shown the utmost ignorance about the Senate oath and the next Rucsu. Rucsu's term is over; we will announce our decision on the Senate very soon.'

On the matter, former vice-chancellor Professor Dr Saleh Hasan Naqib said: 'I was trying to hold a Senate session. I had asked for the necessary information to be updated. It was taking time because of various limitations. After that, my term ended.'

Asked about it, the university's current vice-chancellor Professor Dr Faridul Islam said: 'We are continuing to try to hold a Senate session. There are some limitations; the elected representatives are aware of the matters. To hold a Senate session we first have to fulfil the quorum. Many Senate members have died, and many posts are also vacant for various reasons. After the various issues are resolved we will hold a Senate session. When we understand that we can hold the session without controversy, only then will we do it — I will not do it before that.'