Chhatra Dal rejects DU statement on Ducsu polls, alleges dismissal of complaints without review
It further claimed that the university’s denial of ballot papers being printed in Nilkhet contradicted investigative reports published in the media
The Dhaka University (DU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has rejected the university's recent statement on the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) and hall union elections, alleging that the administration dismissed their complaints without proper scrutiny.
In a press release issued today (26 September), the BNP-backed student organisation said DU authorities had published the official statement without conducting a thorough review of Chhatra Dal-backed candidates' 11 complaints.
The release mentioned that candidates had submitted specific petitions for reviewing CCTV footage of certain booths at several halls.
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"However, it remains highly unclear why the Dhaka University administration chose to describe them as baseless and indefinite," the release added.
It also alleged that instead of responding to formally submitted complaints, the administration only highlighted the subsequent press conference, exposing "a lack of sincerity towards due process".
Attendance verification by polling agents as per the voter list is an essential part of a fair voting process, but "no polling agent was given such an opportunity in the elections," it added. This, the release argued, has created doubts over the officially declared voter turnout, information that remains solely with DU authorities.
It further claimed that the university's denial of ballot papers being printed in Nilkhet contradicted investigative reports published in the media.
"This proves that the allegations raised by Chhatra Dal-backed candidates were true, while the DU administration attempted to mislead through its statement," it said.
Earlier on 23 September, the university authorities issued a statement regarding applications and complaints filed by a section of candidates following the Ducsu and hall union elections.
The statement came after Ducsu vice-president candidates Abidul Islam Khan, Abdul Kader, and Umama Fatema met university officials to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in the polls on the same day.
Several candidates requested full access to election-day CCTV footage. The university said CCTV records are not public documents but reserved evidence under university custody.
Applicants also demanded copies of voter signature lists. The university rejected this request, calling the lists a "highly confidential and private document." It explained that the rules governing Ducsu elections do not permit handing over such lists, which contain sensitive data on thousands of students.
Some raised questions about the printing of ballot papers. However, the DU authorities said the identity of the printing vendor was intentionally kept confidential, which is standard practice.
A long-experienced firm, selected through a competitive tender, printed the ballots under strict supervision and machine readability checks, they added.
The university dismissed rumours that ballots were printed informally, saying such claims were baseless. Furthermore, no discrepancies were reported between distributed ballots and votes cast, and no polling agents, observers, or journalists lodged complaints during or immediately after the election, it said.
The university further added that all applications and complaints have already been reviewed and each applicant will receive an official response and decision in due time.
