DUCSU polls: Baker raises string of complaints against Election Commission

Abu Baker Majumder, the general secretary candidate from the Students Against Discrimination Parliament panel in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, has raised a string of allegations against the Election Commission for the polls.

He alleges that they have failed to take action over violations of the code of conduct, suggested they were part of plans to rig the polls in favour of certain candidates, and were discouraging female students from voting.

Baker told the media on Saturday that he and his panel had concerns over the polls on Sept 9.

The Election Commission has lost its impartiality because it has not taken action against those violating the code of conduct so far, he said.

"The question on everyone's mind is whether they will be part of any election engineering on Sept 9. Those who form the Election Commission are working to elect a specific person as the VP (vice president). Plans are also under way to make a specific person the GS (general secretary)."

However, Baker said he hoped that the university’s students would remain vigilant and not allow such a plan to succeed.

He also alleged that the Election Commission is discouraging women candidates in the polls.

Taking female candidates to the polling station is not a challenge, but the Election Commission has made it one, Baker alleges.

“We have seen from the start that women have been discouraged from voting. The Election Commission made a master plan and is working accordingly. In consideration of those who do not engage in women’s politics, it has set the TSC as the polling centre for nearly 14,000 voters.”

The Students Against Discrimination-backed candidate added that teachers from the BNP-aligned “Sada Dal” are in the ascendancy on campus. Teachers who support the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are both involved in different schemes, he said.

Regarding the Students Against Discrimination-backed panel’s campaign, he said he is attempting to reach out to all students on a one-to-one basis.

“In particular, I am especially trying to go to each student's room to talk to them. I am also going to the front of the residential halls to talk to female students. The female members of our organisation are campaigning in their respective halls. We hope to reach out to all students."

"Our initiative is to prioritise speaking with more students than showing off."

Regarding Mahin Sarkar's withdrawal from the election, Baker said: "[On Saturday] morning, Mahin Sarkar called me and said 'Baker, I want to meet you.' When I met him, he said 'We should be properly organised. I will leave everything to you – it would be good if you win’.”