DUCSU election sees rise in women voters and candidates as overall numbers swell

A record 471 candidates, including 62 women, are contesting 28 posts this year, with 45 vying for VP alone

A year after the student-led July Uprising shook the country, the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election reflects shifting dynamics: the number of male voters has fallen by more than a fifth, while women voters and candidates have surged, carving out greater space in the leadership race.

A record 471 students, including 62 women, are contesting this year’s DUCSU election, marking the sharpest rise in candidates in the union’s history and signalling a new balance of power in campus politics.

The overall pool of candidates has more than doubled. A comparison with the last DUCSU election in March 2019 illustrates this shift.

The candidates are contesting the vice-president (VP), general secretary (GS) and assistant general secretary (AGS) posts, along with most of the editorial positions. At the hall union level, elections will be held for 13 posts, including vice-president and general secretary.

In 2019, the 25 DUCSU posts drew a total of 229 candidates, with just 28 women spread across five key positions, including VP, GS and AGS.

The 2019 elections had 43,255 registered voters, including 16,312 from the five women’s halls. This time, the number of registered voters across 18 halls is 39,874, with 18,959 from women’s halls.

The ratio of female candidates to voters has shifted significantly. In 2019, one female candidate stood for every 586 female voters; in 2025, it has narrowed to one candidate for every 306. Among male students, the ratio has moved from one candidate per 134 voters in 2019 to one per 51 now.

While the number of male voters has dropped 22.37 percent, the number of male candidates has jumped by 103.48 percent. Female voters have risen by 16.22 percent, with female candidates surging 121.43 percent.

Category	2019	2025	Change
Male voters	26,493	20,915	-22.37 percent
Female Voters	16,312	18,959	+16.22 percent
Total voters	43,255	39,874	-7.82 percent
Male candidates	201	409	+103.48 percent
Female candidates	28	62	+121.43 percent
Total candidates	229	471	+105.68 percent

This year, the VP race has drawn the largest field, with 45 contestants. Nineteen are vying for GS, while 25 are competing for AGS. Seventeen are contesting the Liberation War and democratic movement secretary post, 12 for science and technology, 11 for common room, reading room and cafeteria, 14 for international affairs, 19 for literature and culture, nine for research and publication, 13 for sports, 12 for student transport, 17 for social services, 15 for career development, 15 for health and environment, and 11 for human rights and law. A total of 217 candidates are fighting for the 13 members’ posts.

By the Aug 19 deadline, 509 nomination papers were filed, of which 38 were later rejected. The final list confirms 62 female candidates: five for VP, one for GS, four for AGS, two for Liberation War and democratic movement, one for science and technology, nine for common room, three for health and environment, two for career development, one for social service, one for sports, three for research and publication, two for literature and culture, three for human rights and law, and 25 for member posts. None are running for international affairs or student transport secretary.

Among the VP candidates are former leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. Umama Fatema is leading the Independent Students’ Unity panel, while Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Emi heads the Resistance Council panel. Independent contenders include Tahmina Akter, Marzia Hossain Jamila and Jannati Bulbul.

For GS, the only female candidate is Sabina Yasmin from the DUCSU for Change panel, supported by the Students’ Rights Council.

In the AGS category, female candidates include:

• Aditi Islam from the left alliance panel ‘Aparajeyo 71, Odommo 24’ (supported by three left-leaning student groups)

• Ashrefa Khatun from the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad

• Fateha Sharmin Annie, from the panel backed by the expelled Mahin Sarker of the NCP

• Sanjana Afifa Aditi, contesting as an independent

This year’s DUCSU election features nine declared panels, alongside a significant number of independent candidates.

The Jatiayatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel includes Abidul Islam Khan for VP, Tanvir Bari Hamim for GS, and Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed for AGS.

The left-wing coalition panel Protirodh Parshad, supported by seven progressive student groups, features Emi as the VP candidate, Meghmallar Basu of the Student Union for GS, and Jabir Ahmed Jubel of the Revolutionary Student Unity for AGS.

From the Independent Students’ Unity, Umama is running for VP, Al Sadi Bhuiyan -- former president of the DU Journalists’ Association -- is contesting for GS, and Zahed Ahmad is running for AGS.

The panel ‘Boishommobirodhi Chhatra Sangsad’, supported by Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (BGCS), includes Abdul Kader for VP and Abu Baker Mojumder for GS.

From the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel Oikkoboddho Shikkharthi Jote, Abu Shadik Kayem is the VP candidate, SM Farhad is running for GS, and Md Mohiuddin Khan for AGS.

In response to a question about the overall electoral atmosphere, Returning Officer Kazi Maruful Islam said: “We have faith in our students. The university authority has made all necessary preparations, and the students are equally prepared.

“We have observed great enthusiasm among them -- from candidates to voters. If this spirit of enthusiasm, harmony and mutual respect continues, we will witness a free and fair election.”

Since its founding more than a century ago, Dhaka University has held 37 student union elections.

Of these, 29 took place during the British and Pakistan eras -- a span of 50 years.

However, in the 53 years since independence, only eight DUCSU elections have been held.

According to the 1973 Dhaka University Ordinance, DUCSU and hall union elections are to be held annually. Yet, over the last three and a half decades, only one such election has been conducted -- in 2019.

The term of that union has long since expired, leaving the university’s Senate without any student representation for six years.

Following the Uprising of Aug 5, 2024, which led to the fall of the Awami League government, the long-standing dominance of its affiliate student wing, Chhatra League, also ended.

This opened up the space for freer student politics and reignited demands for DUCSU elections. The university administration responded by pledging to hold the polls.

The election journey formally began with the announcement of the schedule on Jul 29. As per the schedule, voting is set for Sept 9.

There will be eight polling centres for the vote. However, many of the panels believe this is inadequate for over 39,000 registered students.

On this concern, Prof Kazi Maruful said: “We are taking the candidates’ demands seriously. We’ve had detailed discussions on the election-day logistics.

“We’ve visited all the centres in person, inspected the rooms and booths being arranged.

According to our calculations, eight centres should be sufficient to conduct the election fairly.

“This isn’t final. If more centres are needed, we are open to reconsideration. But at present, we see no strong reason to deviate from our existing plan,” he added.

CAMPUS ABUZZ WITH CAMPAIGNING

The official campaign for the DUCSU election began on Tuesday, with candidates and their panels launching activities across different faculties.

Some gathered at the Faculty of Arts, others at Fine Arts, as all panels entered the field to promote their agendas.

On-site observations revealed that most panels launched their campaigns soon after concluding a meeting with the DUCSU election commission.

During the meeting, returning officers instructed candidates to adhere to the electoral code of conduct and maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

The commission also discussed arrangements to ensure student safety and facilitate participation of non-residential students on voting day.

It was decided, in consultation with VP and GS candidates, that special bus services would be arranged.

For security, members of the BNCC and the proctorial team will be deployed on Sept 8, the day before the polls, and on Sept 9, voting day.

Police will form the second layer of security, while the Army will be stationed at the seven entry points of the university as “a striking force”.

Following the meeting, different panels launched their campaigns.

The left-leaning panel Protirodh Parshad began by paying floral tributes at the Central Shaheed Minar, marking the start of their campaign.

Later, around 11:30am, they campaigned in front of the Faculty of Social Sciences before moving on to the Faculty of Arts, TSC, and finally the Faculty of Fine Arts, where they concluded the day’s programme.

VP candidate Emi, GS candidate Meghmallar, and AGS candidate Jabir led the campaign.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-backed Oikyoboddho Shikkharthi Jote began their campaign from the central mosque of Dhaka University.

VP candidate Abu Shadik and GS candidate Farhad campaigned at the Faculty of Arts, Madhur Canteen, and the Faculty of Social Sciences before holding a press conference at the Faculty of Fine Arts in the afternoon.

At the briefing, the panel alleged that their banners were torn down on the first day of campaigning, blaming a “conspiratorial group” for the incident.

The independent panel Shikkharthi Oikya, represented by GS candidate Al Sadi Bhuiyan, began their campaign at the July Memorial with floral tributes.

They later campaigned at Jagannath Hall, Rokeya Hall, the central library, the Faculty of Arts, and the Institute of Modern Languages.

Sadi said their female candidates would conduct outreach at women’s halls at night, while male candidates would visit the men’s halls.

In the afternoon, the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal panel paid respects at the Smriti Chironton memorial before launching their campaign.

VP candidate Abidul, GS candidate Tanvir, and AGS candidate Mayed were joined by other panel members as they campaigned at VC Chattar and Mall Chattar.

Shortly after, the DUCSU for Change panel, supported by Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, also began campaigning at VC Chattar and Mall Chattar.

Their VP candidate Bin Yamin Mollah and other panel members joined students during the day’s outreach.

[Writing in English by Syed Mahmud Onindo and Sheikh Fariha Bristy]