Voting in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election is underway after a long gap of six and a half years. Balloting began at 8am on Tuesday and will continue until 4pm.
Students who arrive before the deadline will be allowed to cast their votes, even if they are in line when polling ends.
Since morning, voters have been gathering at the polling centres, where long queues were observed. The campus is abuzz with a festive atmosphere as students eagerly line up to exercise their voting rights.
According to the Election Commission, a total of 39,874 students are eligible to vote this year. Among them, 18,959 are female students and 20,915 are male.
This year, 471 candidates are contesting for 28 positions in DUCSU. In addition, elections are being held for 13 posts each in 18 hall unions, where 1,035 candidates are competing for 234 seats. In total, students will have to cast 41 ballots within the allotted 10 minutes at their booths.
For the first time, arrangements have been made to enable visually impaired students to vote using Braille ballots. Those unable to read Braille may take assistance from a companion.
The number of booths was also increased this year (from 710 to 810 across eight polling centres) to ease the process for both residential and non-residential voters.
At least 10 panels, both full and partial, are participating in the DUCSU election alongside independent candidates.
Panels include:
- Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing), fielding Abidul Islam Khan for Vice President (VP), Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim for General Secretary (GS), and Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed for Assistant GS (AGS).
- Islami Chhatra Shibir, which nominated its central publicity secretary Abu Sadiq Kayem for VP, SM Forhad for GS, and Mohiuddin Khan for AGS.
- Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangha (BAGCHAS), aligned with the spirit of the July Movement, has Abdul Kader as VP candidate and Abu Bakar Majumdar as AGS.
- The Progressive Left Alliance “Protirodh Parishad”, consisting of seven left student organisations, nominated Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Imi for VP, Meghmallar Basu for GS, and Jabir Ahmed Jubel for AGS.
- Independent Student Unity**, led by activist Umama Fatema, includes GS candidate Al Sadi Bhuiyan and AGS candidate Jahed Ahmed.
- Oporajeyo 71–Odommo 24, a joint panel of Bangladesh Chhatra League (Bangladesh Jasod faction), a faction of Chhatra Union, and a faction of the Socialist Students’ Front, has nominated Naim Hasan Hridoy for VP, Enamul Hasan Anoy for GS, and Aditi Islam for AGS.
- Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, nominating its central president Bin Yamin Molla for VP, Sabina Yasmin for GS, and Rakibul Islam for AGS.
Several independent candidates have also drawn attention, including Shamim Hossain from the English Department, who has gained traction with a distinctive manifesto.
The Ducsu and hall union polls are being closely monitored, with students expressing hope for a fair and peaceful election that will reinvigorate democratic practice at Dhaka University.
