The Dhaka University campus is eerily quiet ahead of Tuesday’s, September 9, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and Hall Union elections, as the official election code of conduct halted all campaigning midnight past Sunday.
The usual buzz of posters, processions, and loudspeaker speeches has given way to hushed debates in tea stalls, dormitory corridors, and academic halls, where students are now engaged in intense speculation about the outcome.
With 39,875 students eligible to vote, including 11,341 new undergraduates from the last two academic years and 10,730 master’s students, the election is seen as a crucial barometer of student sentiment in the country’s premier university.
The religious composition of the electorate stands at 35,737 Muslim students and 4,138 from minority religious communities.
In terms of educational background, the majority 38,203 come from general education streams, while 256 are from English-medium backgrounds and 1,403 from madrasa education.
Despite the official campaign silence, a new controversy has emerged online. Several students have reported that the Facebook accounts of key leaders from Islami Chhatra Shibir (Shibir) and Bangladesh Chhatra Dal were suddenly disabled in the final days of campaigning. While some attribute the outages to technical glitches or account violations, others suspect a deliberate, politically motivated takedown aimed at silencing certain voices during a critical phase.
“There was no warning, no notification — just gone,” said one Shibir-affiliated student, requesting anonymity. “We couldn’t post last-minute messages or coordinate with voters. It felt suspicious.”
Social media has played a significant role in this election cycle, with candidates and supporters using platforms to reach younger voters. The sudden loss of access has sparked debate over digital fairness and whether external actors may have influenced the online landscape.
Chief Election Commissioner Dr Jasim Uddin assured the university community that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. “Security has been heightened across the campus. Voting centers are ready, and election officials have been briefed on maintaining neutrality and transparency,” he said.
Special security arrangements have been made in coordination with university authorities and law enforcement to prevent any untoward incidents on polling day.
Still, uncertainty lingers. Students continue to question how smoothly the voting will proceed and whether any last-minute developments organisational shifts, candidate withdrawals, or unrest could alter the dynamics.
Though the slogans have been silenced, the anticipation remains loud. As one final-year student put it:
“The campaigning has ended, but the politics hasn’t. Tomorrow, the ballot will speak only if everyone gets to cast it.”