DUCSU Election: Chhatra Dal holds protest rally over alleged vote rigging

Members of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a protest rally on Tuesday evening, alleging widespread vote rigging in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election. The demonstration, led by Vice President candidate Abidul Islam Abid, took place across the university campus and culminated in front of the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).

Protesters chanted slogans including “Jamaat-Shibir are war criminals,” “We reject election rigging,” and “Administration is complicit in vote theft,” as tensions escalated near the TSC polling center. Chhatra Dal demanded that vote counting be conducted transparently in the presence of all candidates.

Around 6:45 PM, demonstrators began a sit-in outside the TSC, refusing to disperse until their demands were met. Earlier in the evening, Abidul Islam Khan, the Chhatra Dal-backed VP candidate, engaged in a heated exchange with faculty members after being denied entry to the vote counting area.

Chhatra Dal leaders claimed that activists from Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, Shibir, were present inside the center, and called for equal access for journalists and representatives from all student panels. The university administration, however, maintained that no one would be allowed to enter during the counting process.

“This center has witnessed vote rigging in favor of Shibir,” said Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon. “Students from all panels want to observe the counting process, but the administration is ignoring our concerns and treating us unfairly. We will not remain silent until we are granted access.”

Tuesday’s election marked the first DUCSU and hall union polls at Dhaka University in nearly six years. Voting was held from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm across campus.