Desk Report,
VP candidate Umama demands changes to some polling stations
Umama Fatema, the vice-president (VP) candidate of the ‘Independent Student Unity’ panel in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, has demanded that some polling stations be changed to reduce the suffering of voters and increase attendance. At the same time, she has also demanded that students be given the opportunity to vote by showing their university’s central identity cards.
VP candidate Umama demands changes to some polling stations
This demand was made at an emergency press conference in front of the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University on Friday afternoon. General Secretary (GS) candidate Al Sadi Bhuiyan and Human Rights and Law Secretary Nusrat Jahan spoke at the press conference moderated by the panel’s student transport secretary Rafiz Khan. At the press conference, Umama Fatema said, “The university administration has already said that the number of buses will be increased on voting day if necessary. Traffic congestion at New Market and Nilkhet intersections will be controlled to ensure smooth travel of students from Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and Kuwait Maitree Halls.” But our assessment is that this decision is not possible to implement.’
This VP candidate said, ‘We want to specifically say that the polling stations of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and Kuwait Friendship Hall should be shifted from the Dhaka University Club to the Institute of Social Welfare next to the hall. And the polling station of Shamsunnahar Hall should be made in the Atomic Energy Commission building instead of the University Laboratory School. This will increase the participation of female students in the vote.’
Regarding the polling stations of students, Umama Fatema said, ‘There is a distance problem regarding the polling stations even with the students’ halls. The polling stations of Masterda Suryasen Hall, Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Kabi Jasimuddin Hall have been made in Udayan School. The polling stations of these four halls should be made in the Dhaka University Club or the Faculty of Business Education. For the convenience of students of these four halls, we suggest that they be transferred to the Faculty of Business Education.’
Alleging that all information is not being presented clearly to the students at this time, the VP candidate said, ‘One of these is the renewal of hall identity cards for students to vote at the polling station. In the last election of 2019, we saw that students were not aware of the renewal of hall identity cards. Due to which, despite their interest, many students could not vote. Therefore, we demand that a system be put in place so that students can vote using their university identity cards instead of hall identity cards.’
Umama Fatima also said that arrangements should be made for first and second year students who have not yet received their identity cards to vote by showing their admission pay-in slips. If these initiatives are taken, the fatigue and suffering of voters will be reduced. In addition, the maximum number of voters will be present at the polling station.
GS candidate Al Saadi Bhuiyan said, ‘We have already seen that the university administration has become a statement-based and paper-based administration. Despite various complaints, including violations of the code of conduct, the administration is not paying attention. We are calling on the administration to be more effective. We are calling on the students to take action themselves before they complain.’
Demanding for increased security on the day of voting, Human Rights and Law Secretary candidate Nusrat Jahan said, ‘For the convenience of students, we are demanding that some polling stations be set up next to the halls outside the main campus. In that case, security issues may arise at those polling stations. As a result, the administration will have to think anew about bringing the ballot boxes safely to the main campus after voting and bringing the entire campus under security.’
In addition, Nusrat demanded on behalf of the panel to increase the number of bus trips, prevent cyberbullying or harassment of female candidates online, enforce the code of conduct, and have adequate water, sanitation facilities, and a medical team at the polling stations.
