DUCSU Election 2019: Breaches of polls code unchallenged

The Dhaka University authorities have apparently been turning a blind eye to the violation of electoral code of conduct by the candidates and their supporters during the campaign for the upcoming Ducsu election.

Though candidates from almost all the panels have breached the code to different extents, pro-Awami League student body Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) violated it yesterday for the fourth straight day, since the electioneering began on March 3. But, no action was taken yet by the authorities in this regard.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, also conducted campaigns defying the code for the last two days while the candidates from the joint panel of left-leaning organisations and the quota reformist panel too violated it yesterday.

Contacted, Assistant Returning Officer of the election Prof Abdul Bashir said they would take action if anyone filed a written complaint with proofs.

When asked whether they would take any action voluntarily, he referred to the university proctor to ask the question.

Talking to The Daily Star, Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani said they would not take any action before receiving any written complaint containing proof.

“If anyone does not get any problem with the violation, why would we interrupt other's campaigning?” the proctor questioned.

Some BCL men yesterday brought out a bicycle rally as part of the campaigning for Rakibul Islam Rakib, member nominee from the BCL panel, in which four people took part riding motorcycles.

According to the section 3(Ka), any candidate or others on behalf of the candidate cannot bring out a rally, showdown or procession using vehicles, motorcycles, rickshaws, elephants or band party while conducting electioneering.

Violating section 7 of the code, BCL yesterday held a meeting on a stage set up at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla.

Also, posters of a number of BCL leaders, including the ones of its President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury, were pasted on the walls of Zahurul Haq hall, Sir AF Rahman hall, Muhsin hall, which was a clear violation of the section 6(Ka) and (Kha) of the code.

Also, the BCL's VP nominee Rezwanul conducted electioneering on Tuesday with outsiders, defying the section 4(Ga) of the code.

The JCD yesterday brought out a procession and held a rally in which its DU unit President Al Mehedi Talukder and General Secretary Bashar Siddique were seen taking part, violating section 4 (Ga).

Asked, Bashar said, “We did not take part in the electioneering. We just came to the campus with our panel.”

They also conducted campaigning with outsiders on Tuesday.

Witnesses said a colourful procession, accompanied by musical instruments, was brought out on the campus led by Liton Nandi, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Union and candidate for the post of vice president from the alliance of left-leaning bodies, on Tuesday, breaching Section 3(Ka).

Rejecting the allegation, Liton said, “It was not a band party. It was our musical procession. One of our activists used drums as part of the procession.”

On that day, BCL election conducting committee chief Sonjit Chandra Das lodged a complaint against a Liton with the returning office.

Asked about their step regarding the complaint, proctor Golam Rabbani said they could not proceed further as the complainant did not provide any proof to back up his allegation.

The quota reformists violated Section 4(Ga) of the electoral code as non-students joined their election campaign.

Some 42,923 students are going to cast ballots in 18 residential halls of the university during the much-awaited Ducsu polls slated for March 11.