DUCSU election: panel demands cybersecurity cell for safety of female students

Ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, concerns over the safety and privacy of female students have become prominent.

On Sunday, the Independent Students’ Unity panel submitted an eight-point memorandum to the chief returning officer.

Among their key demands was the formation of a “cyber security cell” to protect female candidates from cyberbullying and misogynistic behaviour online.

Their other demands included:

• Relocating several polling centres closer to student halls to encourage turnout
• Strengthening security on and around campus before and during election day, and ensuring ballot box safety
• Providing additional bus trips on polling day
• Arranging for non-residential students to vote with their university ID or pay-in slip if they lack renewed hall cards

They also called for strict enforcement of the election code of conduct and adequate facilities such as water, sanitation, and medical teams at polling booths.

Meanwhile, four Dhaka University students: Sabikun Nahar Tamanna, Md Zakaria, Fatema Tasnim Jhuma and Rifat Redwan, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives to limit the display of female students’ photographs and personal information on the DUCSU voter list.

Their lawyer, Advocate Md Faizullah, said the petition was filed after the university authorities failed to act on a prior written request to the vice-chancellor demanding the removal of the published photographs.

The vice-chancellor and the chief returning officer have been made respondents in the petition.

In the letter to the vice-chancellor, the students said the publication of female students’ photographs in the voter list was a serious breach of privacy, causing distress and bullying, particularly for religiously observant students.

They warned that making such sensitive information publicly accessible posed a threat to students’ safety, and criticised the administration for its inaction.

The petitioners urged that the photographs be removed from the university website immediately.

They also called for future voter lists to use secure alternatives, such as registration numbers instead of personal images.