Officials concerned taking ballot boxes from Senate Bhaban to different halls of Dhaka University on Sunday ahead of DUCSU and hall unions' elections today (Monday) — Focus Bangla Dhaka University (DU) students will go for voting today (Monday) to elect their representatives after 28 years.
DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman assured all of ensuring a fair and free election after different organisations of students submitted a memorandum containing various demands to him on Sunday.
Left alliance vice-president (VP) candidate Liton Nandi, quota reformists' platform VP candidate Nurul Haque Nuru, independent general secretary (GS) candidate A. R. M. Asifur Rahman, VP candidate from independent alliance Arani Semanti Khan, and GS candidate from Students' Federation Ummey Habiba Benojir were present on the occasion.
They demanded increasing the vote casting time, allowing free access of all types of media to polling areas and voting centres, using transparent ballot boxes, permission to appoint polling agents, taking proper steps to protect the voters if forced by anyone, and increasing the number of buses on all routes in the morning on the polling day.
A total of 42,923 voters will get six hours from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm to cast their ballots to elect representatives against 25 posts of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) and 13 hall union posts.
According to chief returning officer S. M. Mahfuzur Rahman, 36 candidates, including three assistance general secretaries, have won uncontested in the elections of 18 hall unions.
According to hall sources, 25 polling centres have been set up at Jagannath Hall, 20 each at Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 35 each at Salimullah Muslim Hall, Surya Sen Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall and Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, 22 each at Zahurul Haq Hall and Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, 50 at Ruqayyah Hall, 20 each at Kabi Jasimuddin Hall and Amar Ekushey Hall, 16 at Sir A. F. Rahman Hall, 24 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, 19 at Bangladesh-Kuwait Moitree Hall, 45 at Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, and 40 polling centres at Bijoy Ekattar Hall.
There will be no polling agent from the candidates. House tutors and staffers of their respective dormitories will act as polling agents. However, the authorities will allow agents from the candidates during ballot counting.
A total of 229 candidates - from eight panels and those sindependent - are vying for 25 posts of the central union. Among them, 21 are vying for the post of vice president, 14 for general secretary, and 13 for assistant general secretary.
In the hall union elections, a total of 509 candidates are vying for 13 positions in each of the 18 halls.
Each voter will cast a total of 38 votes on two separate ballots to elect 38 representatives. There will be two ballot papers for the students to cast their votes, one for DUCSU and another for the hall union posts.
The students will have to collect ballot papers at their respective polling booths by showing identification cards given by the hall authorities concerned.
Around 20 students will be able to vote in an hour. So, many students and candidates have expressed concern over whether the voters will be able to cast 38 votes each by the scheduled time or not.
However, the authority said the students can cast their votes even after the scheduled time (2: 00 pm), if they enter the polling centres by 2: 00 pm.
On the election day, all the scheduled classes and examinations of the university will remain off. Metal detectors will be set up at the entrance of every polling centre. All voting centres will also be monitored with CCTV cameras.
Apart from this, vehicular movement will be restricted inside DU campus, except the vehicles carrying special pass from the authority concerned. Only DU students will be able to use designated vehicles, and outsiders have been asked to avoid the campus area until 10.00 pm, and to use separate routes to commute on the election day.
Journalists will be allowed to enter the guestrooms or designated spots of the voting centres using proper identification, issued by the chief returning officer. However, live streaming or direct telecasting from the polling centres will remain completely prohibited. Besides, all kinds of electronic devices, including mobile phones, will also remain prohibited inside the voting centres.
Meanwhile, pro-BNP-Jamat 'White Group' teachers of DU expressed doubt about making the election fair at a conference at the DU Club on Sunday.
Its convener Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam said, "There is no transparent ballot box (being used) in the election, which indicates possibilities of artifice. Don't make the polls (controversial) like the national election 2018."
The DU VC expressed hope that the election would be held in a fair, free and peaceful manner. He also added that this type of ballot box (non-transparent) has been used in all the DU polls, like - teachers' election, officers' election, etc.
The DUCSU polls did not take place in the last 28 years for various reasons, including indifference of the successive university administrations and the governments.
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