DUCSU Polls: Level playing field major concern

DU Correspondent :

Dhaka University administration decided last day, beginning day of the official campaign, to deploy three-tier security measures, including the deployment of troops on campus on the day of voting with almost all major student organizations expressing concerns about a level playing field in the DUCSU elections.

While candidates from political student organizations are shedding tears, however, independent candidates and ordinary students are participating in various election campaign activities and celebrating DUCSU.

Megh Mallar Bosu, GS Candidate of leftists organizations backed ‘Pratirodh Parshsd’, criticized the decision that women’s halls will have to be used for election campaigning after requesting permission in writing from the administration, saying, “those who have money and muscle power will win, other panels will not be able to participate.”

“If we realize the whole voting thing is turning into a scam, then we may end up not participating in the elections at all,” said Bosu.

Chhatra Dal nominated VP candidate Abidul Islam Khan said at a press conference on Monday that there was no level playing field, alleging various irregularities and violations of the code of conduct surrounding the DUCSU elections.

Accusing A F Rahman Hall Provost Kazi Mahfuzul Haque Supan of bias, he said, “The Provost of this hall is openly patronizing candidates from ‘covert Shibir’ and ‘Bangladesh Ganatanrik Chhatra Sangsad.”

Shadik Kayem, VP candidate of Shibir backed ‘Oikkoboddho Shikkharthi Jot’, raised questions about the level playing field in an emergency press conference in the wake of a group of miscreants vandalizing the election festoon held by the panel at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University yesterday. He said, “The defeated forces of the 24th century, the cultural fascists who have taken over Dhaka University, are trying to bring back fascist politics in the style of ‘Shahbaghi’.”

“The DUCSU elections are the lifeblood of ordinary students and their freedom lies in them,” Mamun Orr Rashid, a student of Surja Sen Hall (2017-18), said, “Any conspiracy regarding the DUCSU elections will undoubtedly be taken against the students.”