After scrutinizing nomination papers, finally the Dhaka University (DU) authorities have published the final list of candidates for the Dhaka University Central Students Union (Ducsu) and hall union polls slated for March 11.
The university authorities published the list on Sunday.
A total of 229 candidates will contest for 25 posts at the central Ducsu where 21 candidates will vie for the vice president post, 14 for the general secretary, and 13 candidates for the assistant general secretary post, in the central student union polls.
After scrutinizing nomination papers, the authorities published the final list on its website ducsu.du.ac.bd on Sunday, although university authorities published the primary list of candidates earlier on Wednesday.
In the Ducsu polls, 11 students will contest for the Liberation War Affairs secretary post, nine for the Science and Technology Affairs secretary office, as well as Common Room and Cafeteria Affairs secretary, 11 for the international Affairs secretary post, eight for the literature affairs secretary post, 12 for the Cultural Affairs secretary post, 11 for the Sports Affairs secretary post, 10 for the Student Transport Affairs secretary post,14 for the Social Welfare secretary position, and 86 for the member posts.
Earlier on 26 February, DU authorities had published the primary list of candidates after disqualifying seven candidates. Among them, five candidates got back their candidacies by filing a review appeal. They are VP post contender Abdullah Ziyad, general secretary post seeker Umme Habiba Benzir, ARM Asifur Rahman, and member post aspirant Ishat Kasfia Ira, and Shafayet Hasnain Sabit.
Candidates contesting the Ducsu polls
From the Chhatra League panel, Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon, Golam Rabbani, and Saddam Hussain; from Chhatra Dal, Mustafizur Rahman, Anisur Rahman, and Khorshed Alam Sohel: from the left alliance, Liton Nandi, Faisal Mahmud, and Sadekul Islam, will compete for VP, general secretary and assistant general secretary post, respectively.
From Bangladesh Students’ Rights Protection Council, a platform which cradled the quota reform movement, Nurul Huq Nur, Mohammad Rashed Khan and Faruk Hussain, from Independent Alliance, Auroni Semonti Khan, Shafi Abdullah, and Amit Paramanik, will vie for the VP, general secretary, and assistant general secretary post, respectively.
Independent candidate and Dhaka University Journalists Association President, ARM Asifur Rahman, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation’s DU chapter President Umme Habiba Benozir, will contest the central general secretary post, and from Sadhikar Sotontro Jote, an independent platform candidate, Abu Raihan Khan, will compete for the central assistant general secretary post.
Also Read- Ducsu polls: Rejected candidates appeal to DU VC for reinstatement of candidacies
The university authorities also published the final candidate list for 13 posts and each of the 18 hall unions of the university.
Earlier, nominations of some candidates from Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, left leaning student bodies, and independent panels, were rejected for providing flawed information and for not being on the final voter list published on March 20.
Candidates start official campaign on campus
Meanwhile, candidates from various panels including Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, Left Alliance, and independent candidates started campaigning officially on campus. Some were seen seeking student votes.
The university authorities will also publish a supplementary voter list on March 5 while the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, will address the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the university about the polls on Monday.
Chief returning officer, Prof SM Mahfuzur Rahman, said no application to further review disqualified candidates would be acceptable now, as the final candidate list had already been published.
He further said: “The candidates can run their campaigning from 10am-12 pm till 24 hours before Election Day and stern action will be taken if any candidates violate the election time code of conduct.”
According to Section 9(c) of the Code of Conduct, “No candidate or any other person on behalf of him can force a competing candidate or bar any voter from casting a vote.”
In this case of violation of the code of conduct, the maximum penalty is Tk10,000, cancellation of candidacy, and expulsion from the university.
