Sheikh Hasina’s DUCSU life membership cancelled

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has cancelled the life membership of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, which had been ‘illegally’ granted to her in 2019.

This decision was made unanimously at the DUCSU’s second general meeting held on Wednesday evening.

Confirming the matter, DUCSU Vice-President Shadik Kayem said the 2019 resolution that made Sheikh Hasina a life member was unconstitutional.

He said: “The issue of granting Hasina life membership was illegal and beyond the DUCSU constitution. She was made a life member undemocratically through a resolution in 2019. Today’s meeting decided to cancel that resolution."


The meeting, held around 6pm in the DUCSU conference room at the university’s administrative building, was presided over by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor and DUCSU President Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan.

Several other key decisions, including a proposal to include DUCSU elections in Dhaka University’s academic calendar, were also made at the meeting, which will be forwarded to the university syndicate for discussion.

The meeting also decided to take initiatives to review previous illegal decisions.

Commenting on the development, DUCSU General Secretary Farhad Hossain said, “The proposal to grant Sheikh Hasina life membership was completely illegal. No clause in DUCSU’s constitution allows anyone to be made a life member. Therefore, cancelling this decision is the right step in favour of democratic principles.”

In 2019, the then DUCSU committee passed a resolution making Sheikh Hasina a “life member”, sparking widespread criticism. Many viewed the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

The current DUCSU committee said the latest decision aims to restore the union’s democratic and principled integrity.