Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections won 23 among 28 posts, including the vice-president, general secretary and assistant general secretary posts.
Elections returning officers on Wednesday morning announced the final results of DUCSU elections, held on Tuesday, at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on the Dhaka University campus.Â
According to the official data, the Shibir-backed Oikkoboddho Shikkharthi Jote’s (united students’ platform) vice-president candidate Abu Shadik Kayem bagged 14,042 votes.
His nearest contestants, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Abidul Islam Khan and independent candidate Shameem Hossen bagged 5,708 and 3,883 votes, respectively.
For the general secretary post, Shibir’s SM Farhad polled 10,794 votes against his nearest candidates, Chhatra Dal’s Shaikh Tanvir Baree Hamim and Pratirodh Parshad’s Meghmallar Bosu bagged 5,283 and 4,949 votes, respectively.
Shibir’s Md Mohiuddin Khan, contesting for the assistant general secretary post, secured 11,772 votes against his nearest candidate Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed polled 5,064 votes and independent Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury got 3,008 votes.
The DUCSU elections recorded a voter turnout of 78.33 per cent of the total 39,874 registered voters, according to the chief returning officer Professor Md Jasim Uddin. A total of 470 candidates, from 12 panels or independently, contested in 28 DUCSU posts.
A total of 1,035 candidates contested in the elections of 18 hall unions, each having 13 posts totalling to 234 posts.
VP post candidates, including Chhatra Dal-backed Abidul and Swatantra Shikkyarthi Parisad-backed Umama Fatema rejected the polls results, alleging that the polls were rigged. Complaining the same, the left-leaning Aporajeyo 71¬- Adyommo 24 panel members also marched the campus roads on Wednesday early morning.
The DU authority on Tuesday evening postponed all classes and exams scheduled for Wednesday.
The campus situation on Wednesday was largely peaceful without any celebration and protest.
On the day, Raquib Hossen Gazi, contesting for health and environment secretary post and executive member post contender Sajib Hossain spoke in separate press briefings held on the DU campus, alleging vote rigging and irregularities.
Later, they went to chief returning officer’s office to lodge complaint but found the office locked.Â
Speaking at a press conference at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban following the announcement of the election results, VP-elect Shadik urged all students, irrespective of religion, opinion or ideology, to work together to make Dhaka University a multicultural and a full-fledged academic institution. The GS-elect SM Farhad, was also present there.
They both announced that Shibir would not hold any victory procession on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad, in a statement issued on Wednesday, demanded investigation and punishment of those involved in what it termed multiple untoward incidents during the voting.
In the DUCSU elections, Shibir-backed candidates won nine among 12 DUCSU secretary posts.
The winners are: liberation war and democratic movements secretary Fatima Tasnim Zuma bagging 10,631 votes; science and technology secretary Iqbal Hayder securing 7,833 votes; common room, reading room and cafeteria secretary Umme Salma getting 9,920 votes; international affairs secretary Jasimuddin Khan bagging 9,706 votes; sports secretary Arman Hossain securing 7,255 votes; students’ transport secretary Asif Abdullah getting 9,061 votes; career development secretary Mazharul Islam bagging 9,344 votes; health and environment secretary MM Al Minhaz securing 7,038 votes; human rights and legal affairs secretary Md Zakaria scoring 11,747 votes.
Independent candidates, Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad won the literature and cultural affairs secretary post with 7,782 votes, research and publication secretary Sanjida Ahmed Tanwi secured 11,778 votes; and Zubair Bin Nesari won social service secretary post with 7,608 votes. Â
Shibir-backed candidates won 11 among 13 executive member posts—Sakibun Nahar Tamanna (10,084), Sarba Mitra Chakma (8,988), Imran Hossain (6,256), Afsana Akhter (5,747), Tazinur Rahman (5,690), Rayhan Uddin (5,082), Miftahul Hossain Al Maruf (5,015), Anas Ibne Munir (5,015), Belal Hossain Opu (4,865), Raisul Islam (4,535), and Md Shahinur Rahman (4,390).
Pratirodh Parshad-backed executive member candidate Hema Chakma bagged 4,908 votes and independent candidate Umma Uswatun Rafiya scored 4,209 votes. Â
The election day was largely peaceful although the atmosphere turned tense during the counting of votes at eight polling centres.
A huge number of supporters of Chhatra Dal and Shibir started to gather at several entry points of the university campus in the evening.
Shikkhak Network, a platform of university teachers, on Tuesday evening criticised the university authorities alleging inefficient management of the DUCSU polls.
