Voting for the Ducsu election, at Ruqayyah Hall, has resumed.
Ruqayyah Hall Provost Prof Dr Zeenat Huda, confirming the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, said voting resumed at the hall around 3pm on Monday.
"We will continue with the voting even if it goes past the scheduled closing time of 6pm," she said.
Earlier around 11am, voting at Ruqayyah Hall, was suspended.
Voting began at 9am, an hour past the scheduled time, and was suspended two hours later.
Wishing to remain anonymous, a Chhatra Union member candidate said: "Nine booths were set up here for the voting.
“However, ballot boxes were missing from three booths. Later, I saw one ballot box lying under the table. It was filled.”
The candidate claimed: “We were forced to leave the room. While leaving, we saw that votes had already been cast and boxes had been filled with marked ballots.”
“Later, Chhatra League activists went inside the voting room, after which a chaotic situation ensured."
Prof Dr Zeenat said: "Why did they [Chhatra League] enter without my permission? Who are they? They definitely wanted to disrupt the voting process.
Students protested at Rokeya Hall, in front of the voting room, and chanted slogans.
Students checking to see if boxes were already stuffed with marked ballots at Ruqayyah Hall at Dhaka University on March 11, 2019 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
Later, students broke down the door to the hall's Chhatri Sangsad Room and therein found a ballot box.
None of the ballot papers had been marked.
"I cannot let this continue," she added.
Students seen breaking open a ballot box to check if it was already stuffed with marked ballots at Ruqayyah Hall at Dhaka University on March 11, 2019 | Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
A total 42,923 voters under the age of 30, from 18 halls, are taking part in the Ducsu and hall union elections which is being held after 28 years. The last Ducsu election was held on June 6, 1990.
According to the final list published by the chief returning officer's office, a total 229 candidates are contesting 25 central positions, including 21 for vice president, 14 for general secretary, and 13 for assistant general secretary.
In addition: 11 candidates are contesting the Liberation War secretary post; nine each for the science and technology secretary, common room, and cafeteria secretary posts; 11 the international affairs secretary post; 8 the literary secretary post; 12 the cultural secretary post; 11 the sports secretary post; 10 the student transport secretary post, 14 the social welfare secretary post; and 86 the member posts.
In the hall union elections, a total 509 candidates are contesting 13 positions in each of the 18 halls.