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Published : 02 Sep 2025, 04:35 PM
The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Hall Union Election Commission has formed a separate committee to investigate a threat of “gang rape” made on social media against a candidate.
Prof Golam Rabbani, chief of the DUCSU Election Code of Conduct taskforce, announced the development on Tuesday.
He said a two-member fact-finding body was brought together to probe offensive remarks targeting a female candidate.
“We requested the committee to complete its investigation within three working days and submit a written report,” he said.
The committee is headed by returning officer Prof Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq, with Assistant Proctor Jahangir Alam as a member.
The controversy came after BM Fahmida Alam, a candidate from the “Aparajeyo 71, Adommo 24” panel, filed a High Court petition on Sunday challenging the candidacy of SM Farhad.
She alleged Farhad was listed in a Bangladesh Chhatra League committee until Aug 5, yet became a nominee of the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed alliance.
The High Court suspended the DUCSU polls until Oct 30 and ordered the university’s election tribunal to investigate Farhad’s eligibility. But following student protests, Dhaka University authorities appealed, and the Appellate Division’s chamber court stayed the order, clearing the way for elections.
Amid the dispute, Ali Hossain, a fourth-year sociology student at Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, posted on Facebook Monday, suggesting Fahmida should face a “gang rape march” instead of protests against the High Court.
The post triggered outrage, with Chhatra Dal and several leftist student groups accusing him of being a Shibir activist.
Chhatra Dal staged demonstrations on campus Tuesday and held a sit-in outside the returning officer’s office. Shibir itself filed a written complaint against Ali Hossain with the proctor’s office, joined by VP candidate Naim Hasan Hridoy.
The university administration then formed a three-member probe committee led by Assistant Proctor Mahbub Kayser, with assistant proctors Shehreen Amin Bhuiya and Rezaul Karim Shohag as members, asking them to conduct a fair and prompt inquiry.
Meanwhile, Sadiq Kayem, VP candidate from the Shibir-backed alliance, urged that “the perpetrator be punished instead of shifting blame to others”.
