Dhaka University students are voting today in the 38th Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Hall Union elections, marking the first vote in seven years amid a charged mix of excitement, festivity, and a touch of anxiety.
With 471 candidates contesting 28 central posts, including a record 62 women, and 39,874 students registered to vote, the elections are expected to be fiercely competitive.
Observers are closely watching the role of female, non-resident, and minority voters, whose turnout could ultimately decide the outcome in a contest seen as a microcosm of national politics. Many former DUCSU leaders have gone on to influence political discourse in Bangladesh, making these student elections a potential bellwether for the broader political landscape.
Voting will take place from 8am to 4pm at eight campus centres, with results expected within four hours of polls closing, according to the DUCSU Election Commission.
The entire Dhaka University campus is charged with both celebration and caution as it hosts the eighth DUCSU election since the country’s independence. A total of 39,874 students are registered to cast their votes.
University authorities have completed all necessary preparations for the polls, scheduled just five months ahead of the national parliamentary elections. Security has been significantly heightened, with 2,096 police officers deployed alongside Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and plain-clothed personnel from various law enforcement agencies. Entry of outsiders has been strictly prohibited.
“Polling centres have been relocated from halls to organise the
election transparently. The vote count at each polling centre will be displayed live on monitors outside the centres. A three-tier security system has been arranged to maintain law and order during the election,” said DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan during a briefing on Monday. 
He added that the aim is to institutionalise democratic aspirations in line with the moral values of the mass uprising, create a collective institutional voice against injustice, and uphold essential societal values.
Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan also called upon the students to come to their respective polling centres to cast votes fearlessly.  In a virtual message around 4pm on Monday, which is available on the official Facebook page of the university, the VC said, “You (students) have demanded the DUCSU election and deeply expected it as it is consistent with the fundamental values of the July uprising,” he said in the message.
“We have arranged the election to ensure the institutional shape of the democratic aspiration and to create a unified voice against injustice. You must come to cast your votes. We will be waiting for you,” he said.
“The entire nation is staring at us and wishing you well,” he said, adding that his university has been fighting for a long to ensure a smooth democratic transition and to institutionalise democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, returning officers have instructed all candidates to adhere strictly to the election code of conduct.
Fierce competition expected for top posts
A total of 471 candidates are contesting 28 central posts, including 45 for Vice President (VP), 19 for General Secretary (GS), and 25 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).
Among them, 62 are women – five for VP, one for GS, and four for AGS. With no ruling party panel this year, the race is widely seen as open, and the competition for top positions is expected to be intense.
VP contenders include Abidul Islam Khan, backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal; Abu Shadik Kayem, supported by Islami Chhatra Shibir; Umama Fatema of the Independent Student Alliance; Abdul Kader, nominated by Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad; and independent candidate Shamim Hossain. All played courageous roles in last year’s July uprising that led to the fall of the longstanding authoritarian regime.
The contest for GS may be closely fought between Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, SM Farhad of Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Abu Bakar Majumdar of Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad. For AGS, frontrunners include Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed (Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal), Muhammad Mohiuddin Khan (Islami Chhatra Shibir), Ashrefa Khatun (Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad), Jabir Ahmed Jubel (Protirodh Porshod), and independent candidate Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury.
Female, non-resident and minority voters may decide the outcome
Observers believe three groups will be decisive in determining the results: female students, non-resident students, and minority voters. Of the total 39,874 voters, 18,959 are women, representing 47.56% of the electorate.
Historically, female votes have often swung outcomes, as many women remain non-partisan and focus on practical issues such as safety, sanitation, housing, and campus security.
This year, candidates have prominently included women in their panels, with campaigns highlighting measures to combat cyberbullying, address the women’s housing crisis, build a safer campus, and implement other gender-sensitive reforms.
Umma Salma, a voter from the Department of Islamic History, said, “This time, both women voters and candidates are more. We want women candidates to emerge victorious. Since almost half of the voters are women, they will largely determine the victory.”
Non-resident students – those living outside halls – make up 41% of voters. In previous elections, their turnout was relatively low, but this year, the university has arranged special transport to facilitate their participation.
Returning Officer Prof Golam Rabbani confirmed extended shuttle services, in cooperation with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Candidates have sought to appeal to this group by pledging better transport, improved library and common room facilities, and lower tuition fees.
Saleh Ahmed, a non-resident student from the Department of Botany, said, “Now we are also seeing who is qualified in the central parliament and we will vote for those who promise us good services.”
Around 10% of voters – roughly 4,000 students – belong to minority and indigenous communities, mainly concentrated in Jagannath Hall and five girls’ halls.
Participation is particularly notable this year, with Hindu and ethnic minority candidates contesting across different panels.
Analysts suggest their collective votes could be decisive in a close race.
Angshuman Dutta, a student of the Department of Mathematics and resident of Jagannath Hall, said, “Minority students will surely vote for the candidates who will ensure that no one will be discriminated against for their religious identity. Besides, they will look for qualified candidates.” He noted, however, that support may be divided among different candidates and panels.
In total, 59 minority candidates from Jagannath Hall, including Protirodh Porshod’s GS candidate Meghmallar Bosu, and 11 from Shamsun Nahar Hall are contesting various posts.
Observers also note that candidates able to secure backing from students in the science faculty, the Institute of Fine Arts, and silent sympathisers of the banned Chhatra League could influence the results.
Concern still exists among students
Apart from festivity, enthusiasm and excitement, students have shared their concern regarding the environment of the Election Day.
Different organisations have variation of strength in different halls and this may create chaotic situation, they said.
Mahidul Islam, a resident of Mastarda Surya Sen Hall and student of the Department of Geography, said, “If any untoward situation erupts, the law enforcement agency might be unable to deal with this due to low confidence of police. The law enforcement agencies may hesitate to take action in fear of probable consequence.”
A few incidents are substantiating the students’ concern as the student organisations’ activists or supporters have already been allegedly involved in dirty politics through hacking or reporting opponents’ social media accounts.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s three candidates for top posts have complained that some unidentified people have disabled their facebook account through repeated reporting, while Islami Chhatra Shibir VP candidate Abu Shadik Kayem deactivated his account amid repeated cyber-attacks, Shibir’s GS candidate SM Farhad claimed through a facebook post.
Independent Student Alliance VP candidate Umama Fatema said her account has been heavily mass-reported since Sunday night.
She also alleged that many candidates’ accounts have already been taken down as be it hall union or central, anyone considered an opponent was being targeted with such reports.