Dhaka University declines to release DUCSU election surveillance clips

University says footage and signature lists are confidential, not public documents

Dhaka University administration has declined to make public CCTV footage and voter-signed lists from the recent DUCSU election.

The administration said the materials are “confidential” and “sensitive”, not public documents.

The DUCSU and hall union elections took place on Sept 9, with the Election Commission reporting turnout of more than 70 percent.

The main competition was between Islami Chhatra Shibir and candidates from Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, though the latter did not win any posts.

Three editorial posts slipped from Shibir’s hands and went to independent candidates.

Thirteen days after the vote, those who ran from the Chhatra Dal panel held a press conference, accusing the process of rigging and listing 11 irregularities.

They claimed that voter signatures were pre-marked and ballots were supplied in favour of specific panels.

The Chhatra Dal panel also alleged that, despite submitting applications for access to the voter list and CCTV footage, the university administration failed to take any effective steps.