Left student bloc announces 28-member DUCSU poll panel

A coalition of seven left-leaning student organisations under the banner of Gonotantrik Chatra Jot, along with several non-partisan students, announced a 28-member panel to contest the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election today.

The panel, named "Protirodh Porshod", was announced at a press briefing at Madhur Canteen by Jabir Ahmed Jubel, the general secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Moitree central committee.

Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Emi of the Department of Sociology was declared as vice-president candidate, while Meghmallar Bosu of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies will contest for the general secretary post.

Jabir, from the finance department, was nominated for assistant general secretary.

Muzammel Haque of the political science department was nominated as the liberation war and democratic movement affairs secretary; Nuzia Hasin Rasha of the linguistics department as common room, reading room, and cafeteria secretary; and Akash Ali of the philosophy department as human rights and legal affairs secretary.

Liton Tripura of the economics department was picked as career development secretary; Ninad Khan of development studies as transport secretary; and Nayeem Uddin of Anthropology as international affairs secretary.

For literature and cultural affairs, the coalition nominated Faria Motin (Ila) of the banking and insurance department, while Maliha Tabassum of the finance department will contest as sports secretary.

Abu Mujahid Akash of the economics department was chosen as social welfare secretary, Sheikh Tasnuva Sristy of population sciences as health and environment affairs secretary, and Fatin Ishrak of Physics as science and technology affairs secretary. Alomgir Hossain of information science and library management was named research and publication secretary.

The executive member candidates include Md Tafsirullah of the mass communication and journalism department, Razekuzzaman Jewel of the television, film, and photography department, and Walker Rahman Shaurav of the pali and buddhist studies department, Md Mustakim of the economics department, Mishkatul Mashiath Tanisha of the institute of disaster management and vulnerability studies department, Atika Anjum Orthy of the Department of Craft, Prithing Marma of the criminology department, Israt Jahan Imu of the management information systems department, Ania Fahmin of the anthropology department, Rahnuma Ahmed Niret of the physics department, Sajid Ul Islam of the oriental art department, and Hema Chakma of the health economics department.

Regarding including three representatives from indigenous communities, Meghmallar said, "There are no 'tribals' in our panel. We have three 'indigenous' representatives. To address the crises faced by indigenous people, both in the hills and plains, it is essential that they play an important role in our collective panel."

"Against the forces of genocide in 1971 and again in 2024, we will build a united democratic movement, and this DUCSU election will serve as a stepping stone in that struggle," added Meghmallar.

Speaking on the inclusion of 12 female candidates, Meghmallar said, "None of them are included as tokens. Each of them, with their agency and judgment, helped us form such a council that will be able to play a strong role against the gender discrimination and oppression of women that persist on this campus."

Emi, on the other hand, criticised the university authorities for their decisions regarding the polls. "The Dhaka University authority has allowed individuals like Zulias Cizar Talukdar—who led repressive acts during the fascist regime—to participate in the DUCSU election. From my political perspective, this is condemnable," she said.

Emi added, "We strongly condemn the biased behaviour of the university administration towards a particular student organisation. They can create mobs at any moment, causing obstacles for other students."