Dhaka University Hall Council Election: Most Organizations Unable to Submit Full Panels, Chhatra Dal Takes Lead

In the upcoming Dhaka University Hall Council elections, no student organization has been able to submit a full panel for all halls. Out of the university’s total 18 halls, only the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal managed to submit complete panels in 14 halls. Among the five female halls, the organization submitted a full panel only in Rokeya Hall.

Meanwhile, Islami Chhatra Shibir and the Democratic Students’ Council have not submitted full panels in any hall. Both organizations stated that, for strategic reasons, they are not fielding panels in the halls but will support independent candidates.

Each hall council has 13 positions, including VP and GS, meaning a total of 234 positions will be contested across all halls. After preliminary verification, 1,108 valid nomination papers were received.

SM Farhad, president of Dhaka University’s Chhatra Shibir, said that students’ opinions on the presence of student politics in the halls were not sought, which led them to decide against submitting panels. Similarly, the Democratic Students’ Council stated that their candidates are competing independently, but coordination is taking place as if they were panels.

Nasir Uddin, central general secretary of Chhatra Dal, said that although they have leaders and activists in all female halls, many were unwilling to contest for various reasons. However, they do have candidates for key positions in the female halls. He also alleged that some organizations are secretly conducting politics under the banner of ordinary students.

According to the preliminary candidate list, multiple candidates, ranging from two to three, are contesting several positions in the student halls. Competition in the female halls is also intense, with multiple candidates vying for many positions.

Meanwhile, the DUCSU VP position has already sparked discussions among students due to two independent candidates. One is Julius Caesar Talukdar, who was previously associated with Chhatra League politics. The other is Muhammad Abu Tayeb, noted as the eldest candidate in the race.

Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until August 25. After the final list is published, official campaigning will begin on August 26.