President of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Ganesh Chandra Roy Saha stated: “Despite various administrative failures, we welcomed the election. We believed the administration might address past shortcomings after announcing the DUCSU election schedule.”
He alleged that the administration has failed to control the overall campus situation surrounding the DUCSU elections.
Saha made these remarks at a press conference held at Madhu’s Canteen on Monday, the last day of nomination paper collection for Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections (which has since been extended by a day). The conference was called after allegations that activists were obstructed from collecting forms at Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.
Saha said: “Despite the evident lack of a level playing field and concerning campus environment, Chhatra Dal, upholding democracy and student sentiments, organisationally instructed activists to collect nomination forms as per the university’s announced schedule.”
He added: “When our activists went to collect forms from the Chief Returning Officer at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, a group of students – allegedly backed by the administration – created chaos, attempted to attack them, and obstructed the nomination process.”
They alleged: “Despite victims’ pleas, security officers assigned to the hall failed to control the situation, ultimately forcing affected students to leave without nomination papers.”
Following the incident, Chhatra Dal’s DU unit leaders submitted a written complaint to the vice-chancellor on Monday.
The letter stated that the administration’s repeated failures and such incidents are undermining the required “level playing field” for elections. The organization demanded reviewing CCTV footage and taking legal action against those responsible.
The petition, signed by DU unit President Ganesh Chandra Roy Saha and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, urged the university administration to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates.