The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, scheduled to be held on September 9 after nearly six years, is sparking intense enthusiasm among general students, students affiliated with political organizations, voters as nominations have already begun to be distributed, and the university administration are also working in full swing.

However, the student wing of the BNP, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), has not yet finalized its decision on who will be the candidates from their panel as discussions with the party’s top organizational leader, Tarique Rahman, are still ongoing.

Mollik Wasi Uddin Tami, the office secretary of the DU JCD, says, “No decision has been made yet. Talks are underway on how we will participate. We are reviewing circumstances. The proper environment necessary for a transparent DUCSU election is questionable considering the violent reaction after forming our hall convening committees. Otherwise, we would have directly formed a panel. If the hall level elections are held, all the organizations must be given space to carry-out organizational activities freely.”

Mohiuddin Khan, the general secretary of the DU Islami Chhatra Shibir, has confirmed that they are forming a panel.

He says, “We are talking about DUCSU from the beginning as an organisation. The formal election process has started and the atmosphere of the campus is currently conducive, as the voters and candidates are moving around in a festive mood.”

All the leftist organisations are also working to form panels.

Salman Siddiqui, president of the Socialist Chhatra Front, says that their panel will include leftist student organizations, social and cultural groups, and those who actively participated in past democratic movements and the July uprising.

He says, “Although the administration is taking visible steps after a year and more, yet it is a matter of hope.”

From the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangha (BAGCHAS), Abdul Qader will contest for VP and Abu Baker Majumdar for general secretary.

Umama Fatema, former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement and former leader of the Chhatra Federation, is also working to form an independent panel.

Another independent panel is being formed under Jamaluddin Muhammad Khalid, the convener of Independent Bangladesh Students Council, along with Mahin Sarker, joint member-secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP).

Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad is forming a panel under its president Bin Yamin Molla, who will contest for the VP position with the banner of “DUCSU for Change”.

Until now, 61 candidates have collected nomination papers, including 6 women.

14 candidates have collected nominations for the VP position of which 13 have already been submitted.

Nomination paper distribution will be continued until August 18, and submission will be closed at 3 pm on August 19.

Preliminary candidate lists will be published on August 21, and the final lists on August 26.

The last day of the withdrawal of nominations is August 25.