Desk Report,
DUCSU does not have a good environment for female candidates
In this year’s Dhaka University Central Student Union (DUCSU) elections, seven leftist student organizations have formed a resistance council. Sheikh Tasnim Afroz (Emi) has been nominated for the post of VP in the resistance council panel. She was not directly associated with any student organization. She was elected as the VP of the Shamsun Nahar Hall parliament in the 2019 DUCSU elections. Tahmid Shakib interviewed her. Tasnim Afroz: Our online campaign shows that a group is trying to bully our panel, especially female candidates, in various ways. Our posts on Facebook are given ‘ha ha’ (laughter reactions). An attempt is made to create an impression that we have no support. But when we do door-to-door campaigns, going to students, they accept us very sincerely. Prothom Alo: You were not involved in the politics of leftist student organizations. But this time, seven leftist student organizations have come to the panel. Was there any thought or strategy behind this?
DUCSU does not have a good environment for female candidates
Tasnim Afroz: The situation in which I came here is that I have seen attempts to confront the Liberation War and the July Uprising in the past year. I have not seen anyone except my fellow fighters on the panel speak in this way about the condition of women in the country, the incidents of oppression of women, and the installation of pictures of Razakars in TSC. I feel that the candidates on my panel have maintained the same moral position on the issue of human rights and rights before and after August 5 (2024). These are the reasons why I have become a candidate from this panel. Prothom Alo: The leftists are always in a protest role. How much positive impact will this role have on the vote?
Tasnim Afroz: At one time, the leftists used to do the best in DUCSU. I think that at one time, one force was influential. We were all uncompromising on the issue of the freedom struggle, we were able to unite; now the division has increased. We don’t want to make concessions to anyone on small issues. If you notice, there are three progressive panels in the DUCSU elections. The leftist student organizations have given two panels. The fact that no one wants to make concessions to anyone, the lack of mutual respect, is not just for the leftists; it is a big crisis in the current politics of Bangladesh.
Prothom Alo: Are you facing any obstacles in your campaign?
Tasnim Afroz: I haven’t faced any obstacles in the door-to-door campaign. But I am facing a lot of harassment online. I am being abused indiscriminately. Especially some right-wing organizations attack me very badly, giving me the Shahbagi tag. All in all, I would say that there is actually no good environment for women candidates from any organization.
Prothom Alo: Do you see any room for concern around this DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections?
Tasnim Afroz: The elections were postponed until October. That postponement order has been postponed again. This is how we are being made a farce. There are also questions about the neutrality of the university. If classes and exams are closed for a week during the voting period, then most of the students will leave. Students have already left many halls. But we have been saying from the beginning that classes should continue. Only classes and exams should be closed on the day of voting. I think they are using various mechanisms (strategies) from the beginning to give advantage to a particular party.
