DUCSU and Hall Students' Union Election at Dhaka University Tomorrow

PNN News Desk | Dhaka:
The central students’ union (DUCSU) and Hall Students’ Union election at Dhaka University will be held tomorrow, Tuesday. Voting will take place simultaneously at eight different centers across the university from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

This year, the ballot papers are larger than in previous years. The DUCSU ballot will be five pages long, while the Hall Students’ Union ballot will be one page. Modern Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets will be used for voting.

For the 28 positions in DUCSU, 471 candidates are competing. Meanwhile, for the 234 positions in the 18 Hall Students’ Unions, 1,035 candidates are contesting. In total, each voter will cast 41 votes.

Voters must first verify their identity using a designated ID. First-year students will show their library card or pay-in slip, while other students will use their university ID or hall card. After identity verification, indelible ink will be applied to the voter’s finger, and the ballot paper will be issued.

Mobile phones or any electronic devices are prohibited inside the voting room. Voters will clearly mark a cross next to their chosen candidates’ names on the ballot and submit it into the designated ballot boxes. Separate ballot boxes will be provided for DUCSU and Hall Students’ Union votes.

For the first time, visually impaired students will have access to Braille ballots. Thirty students from seven halls will benefit from this facility. The DUCSU Braille ballot will be a 30-page booklet, while the Hall Students’ Union ballot will be three to four pages.

Returning Officer and Associate Professor of the Institute of Education and Research, Sharmin Kabir, stated that students who cannot read Braille will be assisted by polling officers or trusted helpers to cast their votes.

To raise voter awareness, the university administration has organized meetings in various faculties and institutes. Additionally, the Election Commission has conveyed voting procedures to students through video messages.

The university authorities have stated that all preparations have been completed to ensure a fair, peaceful, and participatory election.