Desk Report,
Allegations of obstructing the collection of nomination papers by creating a ‘mob’ in the United Hall
The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has alleged that a ‘mob’ has been created in the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall Sangsad of Dhaka University to prevent leaders and activists from collecting nomination papers. The leaders of the BNP student organization have also alleged that there is no equal opportunity for all organizations in the residential halls.
Allegations of obstructing the collection of nomination papers by creating a ‘mob’ in the United Hall
The Chhatra Dal leaders made these allegations at a press conference at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University on Monday evening. The organization’s Dhaka University branch president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall branch Chhatra Dal convener Maliha Binte Khan addressed the press conference. A written complaint has been submitted to the Chief Returning Officer of DUCSU and Hall Sangsad, Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin, on behalf of the Chhatra Dal regarding the Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall incident. Ganesh Chandra Roy read it out at the press conference. It said, “In the context of the mass uprising of 24, the life of Dhaka University students and Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal is the demand of the lives of DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections. Despite the lack of a level playing field (equal opportunity for all) in the overall environment of the campus and the election, despite the clear visibility of democracy and the sentiments of the students, all leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal and Dhaka University are given organizational instructions to collect nomination forms as per the rules in order to participate in the elections according to the schedule announced by the university administration.”
Dhaka University Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra further said that in the context of the organizational instructions, leaders and activists of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal have collected nomination forms today to participate in the DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections. In that sequence, when some students of Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall went to collect the forms from the office of the Returning Officer of their hall, a group of students playing the role of ‘administration’ tried to attack them by creating a mob and obstructing the collection of nomination forms. Although the security officers were present at the request of the affected students, they completely failed to control the situation.
Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas further said that at that time, the affected students were forced to leave the hall because they could not collect the nomination forms. This continuous failure of the Dhaka University administration and its reluctance to take legal action against the creators of such anarchist mobs have exposed the overall security of the university and the lack of a ‘level playing field’ essential for the DUCSU elections, which has become evident through this unfortunate incident today.
After seeing the CCTV footage of the scene, the Chhatra Dal has demanded exemplary punishment for all those involved in the incident. At the same time, the organization has demanded steps to ensure a ‘level playing field’ for all in order to hold a fair election.
At the press conference, Chhatra Dal leader Nahiduzzaman Shipon said, ‘After the July coup, Chhatra League criminals are still present in various halls. They are trying to obstruct and depoliticize the democratic process in the halls. Some secret organizations are joining them and creating a mob situation in the halls. Today, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists have been prevented from collecting nomination papers.’
The victim student, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall branch Chhatra Dal convener Maliha Binte Khan, said, ‘There is no democratic environment in the hall. I went to the hall with a few students at around 3:55 pm to collect nomination papers. Some students, who are called ordinary students, came and stopped us. Later, we informed the hall administration, but they did not listen to us. The students created a mob and did not allow us to collect nomination papers. They tried to raise their hands. We want justice for this incident.’
