Ducsu polls: Chhatra Dal, Shibir, Umama question election fairness
Chhatra Dal’s VP candidate Abidul alleges vote rigging in favour of Shibir
Allegations of irregularities have emerged in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections, with candidates from Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and the independent panel led by vice president candidate Umama Fatema raising concerns about the transparency of the process.
Several groups claimed that incidents during polling and vote counting undermined the credibility of the election.
Watch
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Earlier in the day, a Chhatra Dal delegation led by its General Secretary Nasir Uddin and VP candidate Rakibul Islam and met DU Vice Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan at around 5:30pm to lodge a complaint, alleging vote rigging. The vice chancellor, treasurer, and other senior officials were present during the verbal submission, which witnesses said turned into a heated exchange.
Chhatra Dal raised three key concerns: the widespread presence of Jamaat-Shibir activists at the university's eight entrances, alleged affiliations of senior university officials with Jamaat, and manipulation of the voting process.
Explaining their stance, Rakibul Islam said, "We have witnessed various instances of rigging in the Ducsu polls. Although we lodged complaints with the administration, no action has been taken so far."
Shibir, however, accused Chhatra Dal of misconduct.
At a press conference in the evening, SM Farhad, general secretary candidate from Shibir, alleged that Chhatra Dal's VP candidate Abidul Islam Khan and others had been moving between centres since polls opened at 8am, attempting to influence voters.
He claimed that Shibir candidates were barred from visiting polling centres until after 1:30pm.
Ducsu polls: Shibir's VP candidate Shadik Kayem enters polling centre during vote counting
Farhad also alleged that at Ekushey Hall, polling officials colluded with Chhatra Dal representatives to pre-stamp ballots in their favour.
"When students caught them red-handed, the administration intervened. Later, to divert attention, a staged drama took place at Ruqaiyya Hall where they claimed that a female student was given a ballot already marked in favour of Shibir's VP and GS candidates. We demanded that she be interrogated and the CCTV footage be released, but our request was ignored," he said.
Meanwhile, the presence of Shibir VP candidate Shadiq Kayem inside the Dhaka University Club centre during vote counting drew sharp criticism from rival candidates, who accused the administration of partiality.
Independent VP candidate Umama Fatema also voiced strong objections, alleging that Shibir representatives were given access to polling stations while other candidates were barred. Her panel staged a protest at the TSC area around 3:45pm, chanting slogans such as: "We do not accept Shibir's election, we will not accept it."
Umama further claimed that the election code of conduct was openly flouted, with candidates entering centres and distributing leaflets.
"We are concerned about whether there is a level playing field in these elections. Violations of the code were rampant at polling centres," she said.
Adding to the discontent, independent VP candidate Tahmina Akhter announced her boycott of the elections, citing widespread manipulation.
Speaking to reporters at the TSC, she alleged that polling stations were "occupied" and that ballots had been pre-marked in favour of Shibir-backed candidates.
"This is a fake election, and I reject it outright," Tahmina declared. "I have no confidence in the vice chancellor or anyone involved in the polls who showed bias toward Shibir. I demand their resignation and a judicial investigation."
