Staff Reporter :
The nomination process for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections saw a surge on the final day as a large number of candidates submitted their papers, reflecting growing student interest in the upcoming polls. University election officials reported that Monday witnessed the highest number of submissions compared with previous days.
A total of 565 candidates have collected nomination forms for the DUCSU elections, the Chief Returning Officer announced at a press conference on Monday evening. The nomination process, which began on 12 August, concluded on Monday. Meanwhile, 1,226 nominations have been filed for the Hall Sangsad elections across the university’s 18 residential halls.
In a notable development, Islami Chhatra Shibir announced a full 28-member panel, marking its first open participation in the DUCSU election. The panel includes central leaders Abu Sadiq Kayem and SM Farhad, who will contest the posts of Vice-President (VP) and General Secretary (GS) respectively. Mohiuddin Khan will stand for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).
The announcement was made on Monday at a press briefing in the Senate Building, Dhaka University. Other panel members represent Muktijuddho and Democratic Andolon Inqilab Manch. Key nominees include Fatema Tasnim Juma (Women’s Representative), Iqbal Haider (Science and Technology Secretary), Umme Salma (Common Room, Reading Room and Cafeteria Secretary), and Khan Jasim (International Affairs Secretary), who lost an eye during the July uprising. Additional members will oversee literature, culture, sports, transport, research, career development, health, environment, and human rights.
The panel’s 13 executive members include representatives from various disciplines, including Sar Mitra Chakma, Imran Hossain, Belal Hossain Apu, Joyen Uddin Sarkar Tanmoy, Miftahul Hossain Al Maruf, Majharul Islam Mujahid, special needs student Raisul Islam, and female representatives Sabikun Nahar Tamanna and Afsana Akter. Other members come from debating and student rights platforms.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), could not finalise its panel before the deadline. Several leaders, including Abidul Islam Khan, Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, and Tanveer Al Hadi Mayeed, submitted nomination forms individually, pending approval of the final panel by BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman.
Independent candidate Umama Fatema is also expected to announce her panel shortly, with the full list of candidates and policy outline to be revealed following submission of nomination papers.
Other student organisations, including Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, Democratic Students’ Union, Swadhin Bangladesh Students’ Union, and the Students’ Rights Council, are preparing to submit nominations in the coming days. Abdul Kader, convener of the Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union, noted that many organisations collect nomination forms on the final day as part of their electoral strategy.
According to the election schedule, nomination scrutiny will be held on 20 August, and the list of valid candidates will be published on 21 August. Withdrawals will be allowed until 25 August, with the final candidate list released on 26 August. Voting is scheduled for 9 September, and the final voter list was published on 11 August.
