DUCSU goes to polls today after 28 years

Candidates urge students to exercise their voting rights without fear

The much-awaited Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) and hall union polls are all set to be held today after 28 years with the candidates calling upon the general students to exercise their voting rights without fear. But on the eve of the polling day, all the candidates, except the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) panel, protested against steps like the use of non-transparent ballot boxes, sending of ballot boxes to voting centres before election day, and no recruitment of polling agents on behalf of candidates.

The candidates placed a number of demands including the use of transparent ballot boxes, extension of voting time, recruitment of polling agents, and access to voting centres for journalists. They went to the office of the vice- chancellor (VC) to submit a memorandum to urge the authorities to take action in keeping with their demands for the sake of a fair DUCSU poll, which is going to be held after over 28 years later.

The polls will begin at 8am and continue till 2 pm without any break. Journalists are only allowed to enter the guest rooms beside the main gate of each hall. But they cannot enter into the polling centres inside the

halls.  Earlier, a group of candidates had demanded free movement of journalists to oversee the election procedures.

The candidates went to the VC’s office around 4pm and placed their demands before him after parading the campus with a rally led by the VP and GS candidates of the four panels of Progotishil Chhatra Jote (PCJ), Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Forum (BGSRPF), Shawdikar Satantra Parished and independent ones. After the end of discussion with VC, independent general secretary candidate ARM Asifur Rahman called upon all voters to come at polling centres for exercising their franchise. “We’ll ensure your safety. Please don’t bow down to any evil forces,” he said.     

The DU authorities are going to use non-transparent ballot boxes in the election, moving away from the norm of using transparent ballot boxes in the national elections, he noted.

The assistant returning officer of the DUCSU polls said: “Steel-made ballot boxes (non-transparent) are traditionally in all varsity elections”.

“These ballot boxes were also used in the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association polls and the Registered Graduates’ election. Some new ballot boxes have been manufactured this year due to the increased number of voters,” he added.

A teacher, preferring anonymity, said since the ballots are non-foldable and the votes will be counted by OMR machines, these ballot boxes are going to be used.

Around 4pm, a number of such boxes were taken by the Hazi Mohammad Mohsin Hall, led by hall provost Prof. Nezamul Haque Bhuiyan, from the returning office at the Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate building on the varsity campus. In total, 43,256 voters—16,292 female students and 26,964 male students—of the university will exercise their voting rights in the election.

Among the total 16,292 female voters, there are 4,608 in Rokeya Hall, 3,764 in Shamsun Nahar Hall, 2,288 in Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 1,928 in Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall and 3,724 in Poet Sufia Kamal Hall.

On the other hand, among the total 26,964 male voters, there are 1,799 in Bangabandhu Hall, 2,496 in Jagannath Hall, 3,155 in Bijoy Ekattor Hall, 2,052 in Shahidullah Hall, 2,075 in Fazlul Huq Hall, 1,814 in Salimullah Muslim Hall, 2,301 in Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, 2,170 in Surya Sen Hall, 1,981 in Haji Mohammed Mohsin Hall, 1,658 in Poet Jasim Uddin Hall, 1,840 in Sir F Rahman Hall, 1,346 in Amar Ekushey Hall and 2,257 in Zia Hall.

Each voter in the DUCSU and hall union polls can cast 38 votes on two ballots to elect 38 representatives—25 in the central union and 13 in respective hall unions. A total of 229 candidates are contesting against 25 DUCSU posts. Among those, 21 will fight for the post of vice-president, 14 for general secretary and 13 for assistant general secretary. A total 43, 256 voters of 18 DU dormitories will cast their votes elect representatives to 25 central positions and 13 hall union posts.

In the hall union elections, a total of 509 aspirants are vying for 13 positions in each of the 18 residential halls, including five female dormitories, of the university.

DU students will have to show their identity cards to exercise their franchise at the polls from 8am to 2pm. Those who enter the voting centres before 2pm will be allowed to vote and the results will be announced later in the day. Special arrangements have been made so that visually-impaired students can also cast their votes.

DUCSU goes to polls today after 28 years

Candidates urge students to exercise their voting rights without fear

The much-awaited Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and hall union polls are all set to be held today after 28 years with the candidates calling upon the general students to exercise their voting rights without fear. But on the eve of the polling day, all the candidates, except the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) panel, protested against steps like the use of non-transparent ballot boxes, sending of ballot boxes to voting centres before election day, and no recruitment of polling agents on behalf of candidates. The candidates placed a number of demands including the use of transparent ballot boxes, extension of voting time, recruitment of polling agents, and access to voting centres for journalists. They went to the office of the vice- chancellor (VC) to submit a memorandum to urge the authorities to take action in keeping with their demands for the sake of a fair DUCSU poll, which is going to be held after over 28 years later. The polls will begin at 8am and continue till 2 pm without any break. Journalists are only allowed to enter the guest rooms beside the main gate of each hall. But they cannot enter into the polling centres inside the halls. Earlier, a group of candidates had demanded free movement of journalists to oversee the election procedures. The candidates went to the VCs office around 4pm and placed their demands before him after parading the campus with a rally led by the VP and GS candidates of the four panels of Progotishil Chhatra Jote (PCJ), Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Forum (BGSRPF), Shawdikar Satantra Parished and independent ones. After the end of discussion with VC, independent general secretary candidate ARM Asifur Rahman called upon all voters to come at polling centres for exercising their franchise. Well ensure your safety. Please dont bow down to any evil forces, he said. The DU authorities are going to use non-transparent ballot boxes in the election, moving away from the norm of using transparent ballot boxes in the national elections, he noted. The assistant returning officer of the DUCSU polls said: Steel-made ballot boxes (non-transparent) are traditionally in all varsity elections. These ballot boxes were also used in the Dhaka University Teachers Association polls and the Registered Graduates election. Some new ballot boxes have been manufactured this year due to the increased number of voters, he added. A teacher, preferring anonymity, said since the ballots are non-foldable and the votes will be counted by OMR machines, these ballot boxes are going to be used. Around 4pm, a number of such boxes were taken by the Hazi Mohammad Mohsin Hall, led by hall provost Prof. Nezamul Haque Bhuiyan, from the returning office at the Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate building on the varsity campus. In total, 43,256 voters16,292 female students and 26,964 male studentsof the university will exercise their voting rights in the election. Among the total 16,292 female voters, there are 4,608 in Rokeya Hall, 3,764 in Shamsun Nahar Hall, 2,288 in Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 1,928 in Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall and 3,724 in Poet Sufia Kamal Hall. On the other hand, among the total 26,964 male voters, there are 1,799 in Bangabandhu Hall, 2,496 in Jagannath Hall, 3,155 in Bijoy Ekattor Hall, 2,052 in Shahidullah Hall, 2,075 in Fazlul Huq Hall, 1,814 in Salimullah Muslim Hall, 2,301 in Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, 2,170 in Surya Sen Hall, 1,981 in Haji Mohammed Mohsin Hall, 1,658 in Poet Jasim Uddin Hall, 1,840 in Sir F Rahman Hall, 1,346 in Amar Ekushey Hall and 2,257 in Zia Hall. Each voter in the DUCSU and hall union polls can cast 38 votes on two ballots to elect 38 representatives25 in the central union and 13 in respective hall unions. A total of 229 candidates are contesting against 25 DUCSU posts. Among those, 21 will fight for the post of vice-president, 14 for general secretary and 13 for assistant general secretary. A total 43, 256 voters of 18 DU dormitories will cast their votes elect representatives to 25 central positions and 13 hall union posts. In the hall union elections, a total of 509 aspirants are vying for 13 positions in each of the 18 residential halls, including five female dormitories, of the university. DU students will have to show their identity cards to exercise their franchise at the polls from 8am to 2pm. Those who enter the voting centres before 2pm will be allowed to vote and the results will be announced later in the day. Special arrangements have been made so that visually-impaired students can also cast their votes.