Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel candidates have bagged most of the posts including top three positions — Vice President (VP), General Secretary (GS), and Assistant General Secretary (AGS) — in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.
Abu Shadik Kayem, now the central publication secretary of Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam, clinched the Vice President post with 14,042 votes, while his nearest rival, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)-backed candidate Abidul Islam Khan got 5,708 votes.
Chief Returning Officer Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin formally announced the results at the senate building of the Dhaka University around 8.30 am yesterday.
Out of the 28 posts of DUCSU, Shibir-backed panel gained victory in 23 posts.
Independent VP candidates Shamim Hossain and Umama Fatema secured 3,883 and 3,389 votes respec-tively.
In the General Secretary race, DU Shibir President SM Farhad received 10,794 votes, defeating JCD’s Tanvir Bari Hamim, who secured 5,283 votes as Resistance Council candidate Meghmallar Basu came close with 4,949 votes.
For the post of Assistant General Secretary, Mohammad Mohiuddin Khan, General Secretary of DU unit Shibir, triumphed with 11,772 votes, while JCD candidate Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed got 5,064 votes and Bangladesh Democratic Student’s Alliance panel’s Ashrefa Khatun bagged 900 votes.
The vote count, which began at the university’s Senate Bhaban early yesterday morning, followed a day-long election held on Tuesday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at eight polling centres.
Turnout was reported to be high, with over 77 percent of registered students casting their votes at vari-ous centres outside of the residential halls.
Notably, Rokeya Hall recorded over 1,400 votes for Shadik, while Jagannath Hall saw a lead for Abidul with 1,276 votes.
Despite sporadic allegations, polling was largely peaceful. One polling officer was relieved of duty mid-day, and a journalist tragically died while on assignment during the election.
Observers and candidates praised the large turnout. Independent candidate Umama Fatema earlier ex-pressed hope for a “free and fair election,” while JCD’s Abidul Islam warned that students would resist any attempt of manipulation.
The sweeping victory of Shibir-backed candidates has been described by many on campus as a “historic moment,” with the organization regaining DUCSU leadership after more than five decades.
Shibir backed-panel’s Liberation war and Democratic Movement Secretary Fatima Tasnim Juma bagged 10,631 votes while her closest competitor got 2470 votes.
Md. Iqbal Haider won Science and Technology Secretary post with 7,833 votes, Umme Salma became Common Room, Canteen and Cafeteria Secretary with 9,920 votes, Jasim Uddin Khan (Khan Jasim) was elected as International Affairs Secretary with 9,706 votes while independent candidate Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad became Literary and Cultural Secretary with 7,782 votes.
In Research and Publication Secretary post, independent candidate Sanzida Ahmed Tanni got 11,778 votes as Arman Hossain became Sports Secretary with 7,255 votes. For Student Transport Secretary, Md. Asif Abdullah triumphed with 9,061 votes.
Independent candidate Md. Zubair Bin Nesari (AB Zubair) was elected Social Service Secretary with 7,608 votes, Md. Majharul Islam became Career Development Secretary with 9,344 votes and M. M. Al Tanmoy (Abdullah Al Tanmoy) Health and Environment Secretary with 7,038 votes. Md. Jakaria (Sakhawat Jakaria) clinched the post of Human Rights and Legal Affairs Secretary, securing 11,747 votes.
Among the executive members, Sabekunnahar Tamanna bagged the highest number of votes with gain-ing mark on her name at 10084 ballot papers, Sarba Mitra Chakma gained 8988 votes, Imran Hossain bagged 6256 votes, Afsana Akter got 5747 votes while Tajinur Rahman got 5690 votes, Raihan Uddin 5082 votes, Anas Ibne Munir 5015 votes, Miftahul Hossain Al Maruf 5015 votes, Hema Chakma 4908 votes and Belal Hossen Opu 4865 votes.
