DUCSU Polls: Shibir’s historic win
DU Correspondent :
In the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, the Shibir-backed ‘United Students’ Alliance’ panel candidates won 23 out of 28 posts, including Vice President (VP), GS and AGS, by a wide margin over their closest rivals. By winning the top three posts, Islami Chhatra Shibir got the opportunity to lead DUCSU for the first time in the century-old history of Dhaka University.
DUCSU Chief Election Commissioner Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin announced the official results at around 8:30 am on Wednesday (September 10).
Shibir’s Sadiq Kayem won the VP post on ballot number 22 with 14,042 votes. The closest rival was Abidul Islam Khan of Chhatra Dal, who got 5,708 votes. Shibir’s SM Farhad won the GS post with 10,794 votes. His closest rival for this post, Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim of Chhatra Dal, received 5,383 votes. Mohiuddin Khan won the AGS post with 11,772 votes.
After the political landscape changed through the August 5 coup, the Islami Chhatra Shibir made its debut in Dhaka University by showing its strength. While carrying out extensive organizational activities, the organization became vocal in demanding DUCSU elections. Since the university administration was also sincere in organizing the elections, DUCSU turned to voting. In the end, a massive security blanket was created in a festive atmosphere and the polling was held from 8 am to 4 pm on Tuesday (September 9).
After voting and counting in more than 800 booths in eight centers, the results began to be announced around 1:30 am. There were a total of 18 halls for students and male and female students at Dhaka University. The results were announced one by one, which took the morning to finish.
The final results for the 28 DUCSU posts including VP, GS and AGS were announced. Shibir-backed candidates won most of the posts. Shibir-backed panels also won most of the halls in parliament.
This is the 37th DUCSU election. There were a total of 39,775 voters in this election.
After the voting on Tuesday, the DUCSU Election Commission said that the voter turnout this time was 78.33 percent.
The discussed VP candidates have been posting their reactions on Facebook since the announcement of the results of the election.
Abidul Islam Khan of Chhatra Dal, who was running for the post of VP, rejected the results, calling the DUCSU election a ‘farce’ and a ‘rigged election’. However, Chhatra Dal’s Hamim, who is contesting for the GS post, urged the students to respect the verdict.
Umama Fatema, who is being discussed for the VP post, also boycotted the election results and posted several statuses on Facebook. She tried to put Dhaka University and Shibir in the dock. She posted calling Shibir ‘dishonest’.
Meghmallar Basu, who is being discussed for the GS post, criticized the election in several posts. He wrote, “Planned engineering is going on in the name of votes. Everything is in the news. If you see the detailed results of the trend that is continuing, you and the university students will understand for yourself.”
Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union (BUGCS) leader Abdul Quader was in the news for the VP post. He wrote on Facebook, “I ended the discussion on the DUCSU election here by congratulating the VC and the proctor. Best wishes for Dhaka University, best wishes for the students. I am there for DU and the people of the country in any crisis, as I was in the past.”
Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union (BDSC) raised questions in a statement on Wednesday about the transparency of the DUCSU election.
The statement mentioned that several ballot papers were found filled in advance in the election. Voting was closed at a certain time in the Rokeya Hall. In addition, the LED screen for counting votes was repeatedly turned off, although it was supposed to be on all the time. These incidents have raised questions about the transparency of the election process.
The statement held the administration and returning officers responsible for these irregularities and demanded a prompt and impartial investigation and actions against the culprits.
Despite allegations of rigging and dishonesty, the University Teachers Network believes that there were no major irregularities in the DUCSU elections, although there were some irregularities. The organization held a press conference and said that the elections cannot be called unacceptable.
Shadiq Kayem said at a press conference immediately after the Election Commission announced the results on Wednesday morning, “There is no such thing as victory or defeat. Students have won through the DUCSU elections. The aspirations of July have been won.”
The newly elected General Secretary (GS) SM Farhad said the press conference, “this victory belongs to the students, not the Shibir.”
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said in a statement on Wednesday, “The student community of Dhaka University participated in the elections in a festive and peaceful atmosphere. I sincerely thank all those who were elected in the elections. I hope that they will rise above their party identities and fulfill their duties as representatives of the student community.”
The International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said in a Facebook status on Wednesday afternoon that democracy has won in the DUCSU elections.
Congratulating the winners in the wake of the DUCSU election results, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “I congratulate those who won in DUCSU. This is the custom of democracy. It will be the custom of democracy. Everyone should be congratulated. There were some errors and omissions. Since the elections were held after a long time, these are normal.”
In a statement on Wednesday, former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur thanked the university administration for conducting the election process smoothly and said, “Organizing a vibrant and participatory election with patience and strategy despite adverse circumstances is a commendable initiative.”
President of the Jatiya Nagarik Oikka and former DUCSU VP Mahmudur Rahman Manna commented at an event on Wednesday that the DUCSU elections do not reflect the national vote.
Law Advisor Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul congratulated the winners of the DUCSU elections, the Chhatra Shibir, all the individual winners and all the participants who accepted the elections In a Facebook status on Wednesday.
Asif Nazrul said, “the politics of giving tags has been defeated by a landslide through this election. During Hasina’s tenure, countless Shibir activists and ordinary students were subjected to inhuman torture with the Shibir tag. Incidents of being beaten up on suspicion of Shibir and then handed over to the police were routine.”