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DUCSU election begins
DHAKA, March 11, 2019 (BSS)- The much-anticipated election to Dhaka
University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union has begun today
with much enthusiasm and festivity after nearly three decades.
The university students are going to the polling booths in respective
dormitories to cast their votes to elect their representatives in the central
union and hall unions.
Some 43,256 students- 16,292 females and 26,964 males- of the university
are eligible voters to franchise their voting rights in the election to be
held from 8am to 2pm without a break at around 500 polling booths in 18
residential dormitories.
Each voter in DUCSU and hall union polls, can cast 38 votes, on two
ballots, to elect 38 representatives – – 25 in the central union and 13 in
respective hall unions.
Voters will have to show their identity cards to cast their votes. Some
500 polling booths have been set up in 18 residential halls for the election.
Special arrangements were made for physically challenged voters.
The authorities have prohibited all types of electronic devices, including
mobile phones, in polling booths as archways and metal detectors were
installed to detect those.
A total of 229 candidates are contesting against 25 DUCSU posts. Among
those, 21 are vice president contestants, 14 general secretary candidates and
13 assistant general secretary contenders.
Besides, 11 candidates are contesting for liberation war secretary, nine
each for science and technology secretary and common room and cafeteria
secretary, 11 for international affairs secretary, 8 for literary secretary,
12 for cultural secretary, 11 for sports secretary, 10 for student transport
secretary, 14 for social welfare secretary and 86 aspirants are vying for
member posts.
In the hall union elections, a total of 509 aspirants are vying for 13
positions in each of 18 residential halls of the university including five
female dormitories.
Of the total 16292 female voters, there are 4608 in Rokeya Hall, 3764 in
Shamsun Nahar Hall, 2288 in Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, 1928
in Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall and 3724 in Poet Sufia Kamal Hall.
On the other hand, out of total 26,964 male voters, there are 1799 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.
The Dhaka University campus, which is considered as the breeding ground of
national politics, is teeming with the leaders and activists of all student
bodies.
The main competition is likely to be taken place among Bangladesh Chhatra
League (BCL) led Sammilita Shikkharti Sangsad, left-leaning students’ bodies
panel Pragatashil Chhatra Oikya in the central union while in hall union
polls, main contest would be held among BCL and independent candidates.
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From the panel of BCL, the ruling Awami League’s students’ wing, its
president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon, general secretary Golam Rabbani,
and DU unit general secretary Saddam Hussain are vying for VP, GS, and AGS
posts respectively in the central union polls.
On the other hand, BNP’s students’ wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal nominated
Mustafizur Rahman, Anisur Rahman and Khorshed Alam Sohel and leftist alliance
Pragatishil Chhatra Oikya nominees Liton Nandi, Faisal Mahmud and Sadekul
Islam will contest for the three vital posts-VP, GS and AGS respectively.
Auroni Semonti Khan, Shafi Abdullah, and Amit Paramanik are contesting for
the VP, GS and AGS posts respectively from Swatantra Jote, an alliance of
independent candidates.
Former Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) member Abdul Aleem
Drubo and the association’s incumbent president and former Bangla daily
Prothom Alo reporter ARM Asifur Rahman and Abu Raihan Khan are contesting for
VP, GS and AGS posts respectively from Swadhikar Swatantra Jote, another
independent alliance.
Bangladesh Chhatra Federation’s DU unit president Umme Habiba Benozir is
contesting for GS post independently.
Quota reforms movement leaders Nurul Huq Nur, Mohammad Rashed Khan, and
Faruk Hussain will contest for VP, GS and AGS posts respectively from
Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad.
On Sunday, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), which is banned on Dhaka
University campus, in a press release extended its support to Quota reforms
movement leaders Nuru-Rashed-Faruq panel in the polls.
The authorities chalked out necessary steps to hold a free, fair neutral
and acceptable election, which is seemed to be a tough one with the
participation of all active students’ bodies.
All the classes and examinations of Dhaka University (DU) remained closed
today marking the polls.
Proctor Prof Golam Rabbani said though the classes and examinations
remained closed, the university buses are plying normally so that the non-
residential students can easily come to the campus to exercise their
franchise.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a 24-hour restriction on movement
of outsiders and vehicles on the campus from 6pm today.
Law enforcement agencies are inspecting all seven entry points of the
campus to help hold the polls in a peaceful manner averting any untoward
incidents during the polls.
“All the voting centres were brought under CCTV camera surveillance while
the authorities are not allowing anyone inside the campus without valid
passes or ID cards,” the proctor said.
Vehicles or rickshaws without a valid university pass or sticker are not
being allowed to enter the university.
Authorities also requested Dhaka Medical College Hospital-bound people to
use the Bakshibazar-Chankharpool route during the polling hours.
Chief Returning Officer SM Mahfuzur Rahman said each voter having ID card
should enter his or her respective hall within 2pm to cast vote in the polls.
The much-awaited election to DUCSU and its hall unions is going to held
after nearly three decades as the last polls were held in 1990.
BSS/Asg/MMN-MKD/MSY/0910 hrs