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Published : 29 Aug 2025, 01:18 AM
Accusing the administration of favouritism, the Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported panel, United Students' Alliance, has raised concerns over the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election process.
The panel says it repeatedly faces obstacles and is calling for transparency, claiming that one student organisation is being given preferential treatment.
Addressing the election commission, panel’s vice-president candidate Abu Sadik Kayem said on Thursday: “We are concerned about the administration’s partial behaviour. They have let us down repeatedly. We expect fairness, but instead, one student group is being given undue privileges.”
Referring to the broader political context, Sadik said: “After the July Revolution, we gained political freedom but not cultural freedom. The allies of fallen autocrats are still plotting behind the scenes, continuing to humiliate Islamic symbols. If elected, we will work to normalise those symbols in society.”
“We will put an end to cultural fascism,” he added. “Dhaka University will be transformed into a cultural hub -- a truly multicultural institution where Hindus, Buddhists, Chakmas, Marmas, and others will freely practise their faiths.”
Addressing student issues, Sadik said they had engaged with students at the Arts Building earlier in the day and identified several problems. “There is a severe shortage of classrooms, old and unsafe lifts, and the absence of female staff in the common rooms remains a major concern.
“If elected, we will give our full effort to resolving these.”
In response to earlier allegations that the Shibir-backed panel had violated the election code by placing banners improperly, general secretary candidate SM Farhad brushed aside the claims.
“All posters were put up following the rules in place. The issue arose because the university administration changed the regulations without notice,” he said.
On the matter of security, the election commission recently proposed deploying the Army for the DUCSU election.
However, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), in an official statement, said that there is no legal basis for such deployment in a university student election.
Commenting on the issue, Farhad said: “Many student groups have already expressed their concern. Such a decision should not be taken unilaterally. All stakeholders should have been consulted first.”
