DUCSU polls tomorrow

The long-awaited elections to the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) and the hall unions will be held tomorrow (9 September) and the formal campaign period for the polls has ended.

From now on, only online campaigning will be permitted, while in-person campaigning is no longer allowed.

Students had been officially campaigning since August 26 for the much-anticipated election set to be held tomorrow, (Tuesday).

Even before the official campaign period began, many candidates met students informally under the pretext of greetings and courtesy visits.

Once the campaign officially started on August 26, both panels and independent candidates campaigned vigorously, with several accused of violating the code of conduct in the process.

Chhatra Dal conducted one of the most extensive campaigns, with its nominated panel actively visiting students over the last 11 days. To attract female voters, the panel organised projection meetings in women's halls and plans to take an oath in front of Aparajeyo Bangla on the final day of campaigning.

Meanwhile, Islami Chhatra Shibir, focused on strategic campaigning, combining both online and offline outreach. Their efforts extended not only across campus but also into digital spaces to reach active student voters.

The Democratic Students' Alliance panel, though initially disorganised, gradually gained momentum. Its female members were particularly active in the residential halls, with a special focus on female students in the final stage of the campaign.

In addition to panel campaigns, several independent candidates, including Shamim Hossain, Jamal Uddin Mohammad Khalid, and Binyamin Molla, were also seen working actively across the campus.

Meanwhile, reports surfaced that local supporters from students' home districts have been making phone calls to influence votes. Many students expressed discomfort at these unsolicited requests.

BNP and local Chhatra Dal leaders reportedly collected contact numbers of Dhaka University students to seek votes for Abidul Islam Khan and his panel. In one case, Khulna's Rupsha Thana Chhatra Dal unit expelled its member secretary, Imtiaz Ali Sujon, from all organisational positions after he allegedly asked a DU student for votes without party approval.

Over the last few days, multiple complaints of code of conduct violations have been reported to the administration. However, no action has yet been taken against the accused candidates.

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