Members of the Bangladesh Army will be kept as ‘striking force’ at the university’s main entrances during the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union and hall union elections scheduled for September 9.
The announcement came from at a views-exchange meeting between the returning officers and the candidates for vice-president, general secretary and assistant general secretary posts, held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building at the DU on the first day of campaigns for the elections.
During the meeting, the authorities also said that three-tier security measures would be taken during the elections.
The candidates, however, expressed mixed reactions regarding the deployment of army, saying that the army’s presence during the elections was not necessary because it would create an environment of fear.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel’s general secretary candidate Shaikh Tanvir Baree Hamim told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·, ‘The army deployment may create an atmosphere of fear.’
Former Student Against Discrimination leader Umama Fatema-led panel’s general secretary candidate Al Sadi Bhuiyan termed the university administration’s decision an ‘exaggerated decision’.
He said that as an autonomous university its authorities should have the capabilities to hold a student body election.
Sadi said that the army deployment during the DUCSU elections might generate controversy.
Chhatra Odhikar Parishad-backed panel’s vice-president candidate Bin Yamin Molla commented that the army could be deployed due to the overall political situation following the 2024 changeover, but the administration should ensure that there would not much interference by the force.
‘This is not a national election. DUCSU elections must carry a positive message to the people,’ said Bin Yamin.
Left-leaning student organisations and Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi and Meghmallar Bose-led panel’s GS candidate Meghmallar at a press conference termed the decision a continuation of the administration’s incompetence to hold the elections.
Faction of Bangladesh Students’ Union, Socialist Students’ Front and Bangladesh Chhatra League-BCL-led panel’s vice-president candidate Naim Hasan at a press conference opposed the army deployment decision.
Naim said, ‘In the name of ensuring security, the army must not be deployed as striking force.’
He also demanded the cancelation of candidacy of the candidates from affiliated student bodies involved in the genocide during the War of Independence in 1971 and the massacre in mass uprising in 2024.
At the meeting with candidates, the university authorities said that on the polling day, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps and the proctorial teams would be in the first layer, police in the second, and army personnel as striking force at seven entry points to the campus in the third layer, reported DU correspondent.
Authorities said that army personnel would enter the campus during polling if necessary and after the voting ends, the polling centres would remain cordoned off by the army until the announcement of results.
The Dhaka University metro station will remain closed on September 8 and 9 while additional bus trips will be arranged to facilitate voting for students living outside the campus, they said.
Candidates, however, expressed discontent over the role of university administration as the authorities refused to listen to the concerns of the candidates during the meeting.
Candidates from different panels, including Chhatra Dal’s panel and Meghmallar-led panel, expressed their concern over free, fair and participatory elections and demanded that the authorities increase the polling centres and postpone examinations before the elections.
From Tuesday morning, candidates from different panels as well as the independents launched their campaigns.
The Islami Chhatra Shibir-led panel at a press briefing alleged that an unidentified group vandalised a campaign banner placed on fine arts faculty premises and distorted the portraits of the candidates.
Meanwhile, the authorities published the final list of the 471 candidates to vie for the DUCSU elections.
According to the final list, 45 candidates will contest for the post of vice-president, 19 for general secretary and 25 for assistant general secretary post.
