DUCSU ballot boxes to be sealed before media, counting to be shown live

In a move to ensure transparency in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall elections, empty ballot boxes will be sealed in front of journalists before polling, and vote counts will be broadcast live on LED screens outside each centre.

The announcement came in two separate notices signed by Md Jasim Uddin, chief returning officer of the DUCSU polls.

One notice said: “For the attention of electronic and print media journalists, on Tuesday, the 9th of September, 2025, at 7.30am, ballot boxes at each polling centre will be displayed and sealed. Your presence at that time is earnestly requested.”

The other notice read: “The counting of votes in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union and hall elections 2025 will be shown live on LED screens outside each polling centre.”

Voting is scheduled from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday across eight centres on the university campus.

A total of 39,874 students are eligible to cast their ballots. Among them, 18,959 are from five female halls, while 20,915 are from 13 male halls.

This year, 471 candidates are competing for 28 posts in the central union, while 1,035 candidates are contesting for 234 posts across 18 halls, with 13 positions in each.

In a third notice, the Election Commission said: “For the attention of voters participating in the DUCSU and hall elections 2025, no bags, mobile phones, smartwatches, electronic devices, water bottles or any form of liquid will be allowed inside polling centres.”