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DUCSU-FEMALE-VOTERS
Female, non-resident voters decisive force in Ducsu polls
By Maloy Kumar Dutta and Md Mahdi-Al-Muhtasim Nibir
DHAKA, March 10, 2019 (BSS) – Female and non-resident voters could be a
decisive part in much-anticipated Dhaka University Central Students’ Union
(Ducsu) polls as some 16,292 female students out of total 43,256 will vote in
the polls to be held tomorrow.
Out of total female voters, there are 4608 voters in Rokeya Hall, 3764 in
Shamsun Nahar Hall, 2288 in Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 1928
in Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall, 3724 in Poet Sufia Kamal Hall.
On the other hand, out of total 26,964 male voters, there are 1799 voters
in Bangabandhu Hall, 2496 in Jagannath Hall, 3155 in Bijoy Ekattor Hall, 2052
in Shahidullah Hall, 2075 in Fazlul Huq Hall, 1814 in Salimullah Muslim Hall,
2301 in Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, 2170 in Surya Sen Hall, 1981 in Haji
Mohammed Mohsin Hall, 1658 in Poet Jasim Uddin Hall, 1840 in Sir F Rahman
Hall, 1346 in Amar Ekushey Hall and 2257 in Zia Hall.
“In the Ducsu election this time, a huge number of female students will
exercise their voting rights. It’s a good sign as the country has been
spreading the campaign of women empowerment at all levels,” said Sonjit
Chandra Das, chairman of the election conducting committee of Bangladesh
Chhatra League led Sammilita Shikkharti Sangsad and BCL’s DU unit president.
He said “We have given nominations to seven female candidates from our
panel to contest the polls. Hopefully the participation of female students
will increase in coming days.”
Mentioning that there are 22 female elected MPs in the 11th parliament
which is maximum in number so far, Das said the participation of female
students will also increase gradually in the Ducsu elections, which is touted
as the country’s second parliament.
Litan Nandi, vice-president candidate of left-leaning panel Pragatishil
Chhatra Oikya and general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Union told BSS: “We
have given priority to female voters and put our special efforts while
conducting election campaign at female dormitories. Giving special focus, we
also tried to reach non-resident both female and male voters whose votes
could be a decisive matter in the polls.”
He also expressed his optimism that the female and non-resident voters
will cast their votes in favour of the alliance of left leaning student
bodies.
But in terms of candidacy, female are lagging behind their male
counterparts as only 28 female candidates out of 229 will contest the central
students’ union polls against 25 posts while the number of male candidates is
201.
Only 15 recent women candidates vie in the election this year whereas the
percentage of total women voters is 36.
According to the final voter list, two female candidates will vie for VP
post, three for general secretary (GS), two for liberation war affairs
secretary, five for common room and cafeteria affairs secretary posts while
only one candidate for science and technology affairs secretary,
international affairs secretary and literature affairs secretary, sports
affairs secretary and social welfare secretary posts each.
Some 11 female candidates will vie for members post in the election race
while there is no female candidates for assistant general secretary post,
cultural affairs secretary post and student transport affairs secretary post.
Bangladesh Chhatra League nominee for international affairs secretary post
Sahrima Tanzima Orny said female’s participation in the election is lower
than male.
“I tried to carry out my election campaign reaching every student in female
dormitories pledging them to put my best endeavours for their welfare as well
as increasing their participation in that platform. Finally I drew a huge
response and support from them,” she said.
She expressed her hope female voters along with male counterparts will
vote for female candidates in the polls to ensure proper women empowerment.
Bangladesh Chhatra Federation GS aspirant Umme Habiba Benojir said she got
comparatively better response from female dorms than male as the women
students feel more comfort to share their problems and place their demands to
a female than a male.
“Most of the female students known me as I was in forefront in all recent
movements for general students”, she added.
The ruling Awami League’s students wing Bangladesh Chhatra League, under
the panel of Sammilita Shikharti Parishad, nominated seven female students
while BNP’s student organisation Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal nominated only one
female student.
Left-leaning Pragatishil Chhatra Oikya and Samrajyabad Birodhi Chhatra
Oikya jointly nominated one female student, Chhatra Mukti Jote gave
nominations to seven contestants, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri to four and Quota
reform protesters’ platform Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakshan
Parishad to one and independent panel Satantra Jote nominated three female
candidates for the central union polls.
General Secretary aspirant from Bangladesh Chhatra Federation Umme Habiba
Benojir attributed women’s disinterest in politics to the lack of their
safety and social negative views on women’s politics.
BSS/Spl/MMN/MKD/GMR/1043 hrs