The nomination paper collection for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections witnessed a festive mood on the last day on Tuesday as hundreds of students crowded in the senate building area to secure forms.
Chief returning officer professor Mohammad Zashim Uddin told reporters in a press briefing at the university’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building that they sold 658 nomination forms for 28 DUCSU posts. Of them, 93 were sold on Tuesday.
Besides, 1,427 nomination papers were sold across 18 residential halls for the hall union elections, according to official statistics. Of them, 201 were sold on the last day of the nomination paper collection that began on August 12.
The highest 112 nomination papers were sold against the posts of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall Students’ Union, while the lowest 33 were sold against the posts of Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall Students’ Union.
Besides, 73 collected nomination papers for Salimullah Muslim Hall, 74 for Jagannath Hall, 86 for Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, 100 for Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall, 53 for Rokeya Hall, 95 for Surja Sen Hall, 80 for Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, 42 for Shamsun Nahar Hall, 106 for Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall, 98 for Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, 79 for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, 39 for Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 91 for Amar Ekushey Hall, 88 for Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, 96 for Bijoy Ekattor Hall and 82 for Sir AF Rahman Hall.
According to returning officers, a candidate can collect and submit multiple nomination forms, but he or she will be allowed to contest for only one post. If a candidate fails to withdraw the rest, all of his forms will be declared invalid.
The chief returning officer said that only legitimate DU students had collected the forms.
He said that no one collected the forms under party banners.
On the last day, both independent aspirants and leaders and activists of major students’ organisations were seen collecting nomination papers, while female students’ participation was noticeable.
Until Tuesday, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, left-leaning student organisations, and Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, among others, announced their panels for the elections.
Leaders of several student organisations said that the election had generated wide interest among students, with both independent and organisational candidates preparing to contest.
Meanwhile, seven left-leaning student organisations announced a 28-member panel named ‘Pratirodhi Parishad’ at Madhu’s Canteen.
The panel named former Shamsunnahar Hall Students’ Union vice-president Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi for the post of VP, DU Chhatra Union president Meghmallar Basu for the post of general secretary, Revolutionary Student Unity general secretary Jabir Ahmed Jubel for assistant general secretary, and Socialist Students’ Front DU unit convener Muzammel Haque for liberation war and democratic movement affairs secretary.
A faction of Bangladesh Chhatra Union demanded the cancellation of nominations of former Chhatra League leader Zulias Cizar Talukdar and candidates linked to Islami Chhatra Shibir, alleging that they were involved in violent politics in the past.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal alleged that its aspirants were obstructed while collecting forms at Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall on Monday, claiming that a ‘mob’ created hurdles in the presence of security officials.
They demanded action against those responsible for the obstacle.
Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad alleged that Chhatra Dal pressured the administration to extend the deadline, violating the electoral code of conduct.
At a press conference at TSC’s Payra Chattar on Monday, its leaders accused the authorities of bias towards a particular group.
August 25 is set for the withdrawal of nomination papers, and the final list of candidates will be published on August 26.
The DUCSU elections are scheduled for September 9.
The latest DUCSU elections were held on March 11, 2019 after a 28-year gap.
