Balloting underway in DUCSU elections

The long-anticipated Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections began at 8:00am today at eight designated polling centres across the campus.

Students started gathering well before polls opened, as returning officers sealed ballot boxes in the presence of the media to ensure transparency.

For the first time, six-page ballot papers using optical mark recognition (OMR) technology are being introduced in these elections.

Earlier in the morning, Abidul Islam Khan, the vice-president (VP) candidate backed by BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), visited the Udayan School and College polling centre. Shortly after polling began, Islami Chhatra Shibir–backed VP candidate Shadik Kayem and JCD-backed general secretary (GS) candidate Tanvir Bari Hamim were seen joining fellow students in line to cast their votes at the same centre.

Many first-time voters expressed enthusiasm over participating in a democratic exercise free from intimidation.

“It feels like an honour to vote according to my own will. After the fall of fascism, being able to vote in such an environment is truly inspiring,” said student Sumon Islam after casting his ballot.

Another student, Alfaz Hossain, shared: “Though I became a voter long ago, I never had the opportunity to cast my vote freely for a candidate of my choice. This is the first time I exercised my right in a DUCSU election.”

University authorities and election officials voiced confidence that the polls would remain free, fair and peaceful amid the festive spirit prevailing on campus.