BNP leader Salahuddin 'personally' congratulates DUCSU winners

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has congratulated the winners of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, but clarified that his remarks were not on behalf of his party.

Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Wednesday, Salahuddin said he was responding in a personal capacity after being asked repeatedly by the media about the outcome.

“The media has been asking since morning… The DUCSU elections were held and student council elections will be held soon in various universities. What are the trends in these elections and what are your comments on the results of these elections?” he told the gathering.

“The panel of the winners was the United Students' Alliance. I personally congratulate those who won under that banner… this is a norm of democracy. The election was flawed to some extent as this journey has been held after a long time.”

Salahuddin pushed back against media reports describing the victors as candidates from Islami Chhatra Shibir.

“I saw in one or two newspapers that the Chhatra Shibir panel won. I would like to tell my journalist friends that, as far as I know, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir did not participate in this DUCSU election. Was there any panel in this name or banner? The question is, why are media outlets putting it in this way?” he said.

Islami Chhatra Shibir scored a stunning victory in the polls, winning nine of DUCSU’s 12 executive positions. The group swept the top three posts for the first time, with Abu Shadik Kayem being elected vice-president, SM Farhad general secretary and Md Mohiuddin Khan assistant general secretary. Independent candidates claimed the other three positions.

'CHHATRA DAL CONTESTED UNDER OWN BANNER'

Salahuddin noted that the BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, had openly declared and contested under its own party name, though it failed to secure any posts.

“One thing is noteworthy -- the Chhatra Dal participated in the DUCSU elections under its own party banner and with proper announcement,” he said.

Pointing out that other groups had run under different names, he said: “Even one party called Islami Chhatra Andolon used their name in the election. Some contestants used Independent Student Unity, others Coordinated Student Council, Anti-discrimination Student Council, Aparajeyo 71 and Adommo 24 as their panel or banner names. Those who don’t want to use their names for a student council election must have some agenda.”

The discussion was held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail to mark the 47th founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, BNP’s women’s wing.

The discussion meeting was held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail to mark the 47th founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the women’s wing of BNP.