DUCSU Draft Voter List Sparks Outrage Over Inclusion of Expelled Chhatra League Leaders

The release of the draft voter list for the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election has ignited controversy, with students raising objections over the inclusion of controversial figures and expelled Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders involved in the July 2024 uprising. The DUCSU Election Commission, led by Chief Returning Officer Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, has called for objections to be submitted by 8 August to address concerns.

The draft voter list, published on 30 July following the election schedule announcement on 29 July, includes 39,932 eligible voters, comprising 20,904 male students (52.35%) and 19,028 female students (47.65%). Displayed across residential halls, the list has drawn sharp criticism for including names of students expelled during the July uprising, notably Sajibur Rahman Sajib, former president of Bijoy Ekattor Hall’s Chhatra League unit. Sajib, a postgraduate student in the Psychology Department for the 2022-23 academic year, was expelled from the hall for allegedly attacking protesting students during the July movement. His name appears as voter number 16, prompting outrage among students, some of whom defaced the Bijoy Ekattor Hall list with the word “cancelled” in protest. Similar concerns have emerged regarding voter lists at Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall and other residential halls, where names of expelled Chhatra League activists are reportedly included.

In response, Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin issued a notice on 31 July, stating, “If there are objections to any student included in the draft voter list, we request that these be communicated to the Election Commission through the respective hall provost.” The commission has set 8 August as the deadline for objections, with the final voter list scheduled for release on 11 August. The election, set for 9 September, will see voting from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. across six polling centers, with results announced the same day.

The inclusion of expelled students has intensified scrutiny of the election process, with students questioning the administration’s oversight. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions from the July uprising, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and the banning of Chhatra League activities on campus.