Meghmallar Basu, candidate for General Secretary (GS) of the left-alliance-supported “Resistance Panel,” arrived on campus in a wheelchair to vote in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. While expressing satisfaction with student participResistaneation, he alleged that “biased behaviour towards major parties” is occurring.
Meghmallar Basu said, “This is very positive. Tremendous spontaneous participation is seen. We wanted this spontaneous participation. From what we have seen so far, if voter turnout continues in this trend, the election will be excellent.”
Addressing voters, he appealed, “I want to inform voters that the voting environment is extremely peaceful. Those of you who haven’t come to vote yet, please start heading to vote. Those in various areas of Dhaka city, please come to vote. Cast your vote for whoever you think is the deserving candidate.”
On the other hand, alleging “biased behavior towards major parties,” he mentioned that minor complaints are being received so far. He stated that they had to enter the field accepting the allegations of bias towards major parties. If voters turn out in large numbers despite structural obstacles, no “manipulation or engineering” will be possible. If 40,000 students come to vote, how many can you manipulate with leaflets?
Security has been strengthened on the campus surrounding the DU election. Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and university security personnel are stationed at the entry points. Only students with ID cards and authorized persons are permitted to enter the campus.
In the Ducsu election, 471 candidates are contesting for 28 positions, among whom 62 are female candidates. The highest number of candidates, 217, are competing for member positions.
The number of voters in this election is 39,775. Among them, 20,873 are male students and 18,902 are female students.
Voters will not be allowed to enter the voting centres with bags, mobile phones, smartwatches, any kind of electronic device, water bottles, or any liquid substance.
In this DUCSU election, around 10 panels, both full and partial, are participating, including the “Independent Student Unity” led by Umama Fatema, the “Abid-Hamim-Mayeed Council” supported by Chhatra Dal, the “United Student Alliance” supported by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the “Discrimination-Resistant Student Parliament” supported by the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council, and the “Resistance Panel” supported by the left alliance.
