Chhatra Dal alleges 11 irregularities in DUCSU election

Chhatra Dal's Vice President (VP) candidate Abidul Islam Khan has raised serious allegations of irregularities in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election, citing 11 specific issues that, he claims, compromised the integrity of the vote.

Speaking at a press conference held at Madhur Canteen on Monday morning, Abidul outlined 11 major irregularities that he claims marred the electoral process.

In a written statement, he said complaints regarding these irregularities—both during voting and after the announcement of results—were formally submitted to the university administration. However, he alleged that the authorities failed to take meaningful action, opting instead to delay and ignore the issues raised.

“When we submitted our complaints, the administration chose a path of delay. Our concerns were disregarded,” Abidul told reporters.

The 11 irregularities cited:

Ballot stuffing: Votes were cast in favor of a specific panel before voters arrived, with forged signatures on voter lists.

No serial numbers on ballots: The absence of serial numbers on ballot papers opened the door to potential manipulation.

Undisclosed printing location: Ballots were printed secretly, later found unsecured at a press in Nilkhet.

Secret software verification: Vote-counting machines and software were tested without informing candidates or voters.

Agent selection issues: Final polling agent lists were published the night before the election, excluding many nominated agents.

Delay in ID distribution: Many polling agents did not receive ID cards on time, barring them from entering centers.

Sudden expansion of polling centers: The number of centers increased from 8 to 18 on election day, catching panels off-guard.

Improper appointment of officials: Polling officers were appointed by the university rather than the Chief Returning Officer; some were unaware of election rules.

Security bias: Allegations emerged that BNCC, Scouts, and Girls’ Guide members allowed unauthorized persons into centers.

Agent exclusion during counting: Agents were kept away from the vote-counting process in several centers.

Lack of transparency and marker shortage: Transparent boxes were not used, and marker shortages led to pen use—allegedly unreadable by OMR machines.

Abidul also voiced concerns about the finger ink wearing off quickly, potentially allowing individuals to vote multiple times.

“This election is becoming a questionable chapter in DUCSU’s history,” he said, calling on the university administration to ensure transparency and accountability.

Chhatra Dal has demanded an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities and the publication of findings.