Staff Reporter:
Chief Returning Officer Prof Mohammad Jasim Uddin has said that the authority can request army assistance to manage the situation if necessary during the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, scheduled for 9 September.
He said this while addressing a press conference held in front of the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on Thursday afternoon.
For the first time in history, polling stations have been set up outside residential and academic buildings of the university to hold the election in a free and fair manner.
“Students have expressed security concerns. We have therefore assured them that if any crisis arises, the army will serve as the top tier in our planned three-level security system,” Jasim Uddin said.
He added that discussions have already been held with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner regarding the matter, but no formal talks have yet taken place with the army.
“A final decision will be taken after considering the situation,” he noted.
Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a press release stating that the government has not given any order to deploy the army for the DUCSU and Hall Union elections and there will be no such possibility in the future.
Meanwhile, Returning Officer Kazi Maruful Haque said the question of army deployment arose from student concerns over security.
“Since polling stations have been relocated outside the residential halls, there is no reason to worry now. Sufficient booths will be set up to ensure smooth voting and that every student can exercise their right,” he added.
