Abidul Islam Khan, Abdul Kader, and Umama Fatema, defeated vice-president (VP) candidates of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections, accused the DU administration of negligence in addressing alleged irregularities in the polls.
They raised the allegations after meeting DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Niaz Ahmed Khan on Tuesday.
Abidul Islam Khan, VP candidate from the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) panel, said, "We raised these concerns because of responsibility towards the elections. The administration claims that it was unaware of the unsecured ballots. Publishing the voter lists was also delayed, which increased our suspicion. Those lists only contained signatures of attendance."
Umama Fatema, VP candidate From the Swatantra Shikkharti Oikka panel, said, "On September 7, we found DUCSU ballot papers lying unsecured in a printing press at Gausul Azam Market, Nilkhet. We asked the administration for a clear explanation about this, but they did not provide any."
She also questioned the reported turnout figure. "The voter turnout shown in the results did not match what we saw at the polling centres. We demanded that the signed voter lists be made public," she added.
Abdul Kader, who contested as the VP candidate from the Boishommo Birodhi (Anti-Discrimination) Shikkarti Sangsad panel - backed by the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union, said, "We specifically asked about the unsecured ballot papers at Gausul Azam Market and the signature lists. But the administration was reluctant to answer."
He also noted irregularities in certain dormitories. "There were concerns about Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall. The reported turnouts there were unrealistic. Yet when we raised the issue, the VC and the proctor said such information could not be shared."
During the press briefing, several other candidates were present, including Tanvir Bari Hamim and Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed, GS and AGS candidates respectively from the JCD panel; and Arafat Chowdhury, an independent GS candidate.
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