Come to polling centres whether you vote for me or not: Umama to female DU students

She says women’s participation could push turnout beyond 35,000 voters

Umama Fatema, the vice-president candidate from the Independent Students Unity panel, has urged female students to vote in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, regardless of whether they support her or not.

While campaigning at Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall on Saturday, she highlighted the many obstacles women candidates have had to overcome to contest the election.

Umama called on female voters to remember these struggles and ensure they cast their votes.

She said, “We keep telling everyone to vote for a capable candidate. If they think I am not the right choice, they don’t have to vote for me. But they must come to the centre and cast their ballot.

“We keep repeating that, however you can, you must come and vote. Do not miss it.”

Umama said if 47 percent of female voters participate, the overall turnout could exceed 35,000. She expressed hope that women would turn out in large numbers to vote.

She also highlighted that the distance between the female student halls and female voting centres might reduce the number of women showing up to vote.

Umama also pointed to other hurdles. “Because of confusion over whether the university would close, some students have already gone home.

“And since this election has been linked with national politics, many guardians have called their daughters home too. This has become an obstacle for female students trying to go to their polling centres,” she said.