No role for military in student union polls: ISPR

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has categorically said that the Bangladesh Army has not received any government directive to participate in the upcoming central student union elections at universities, and there is no possibility of such involvement in the future.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, ISPR addressed recent media and social media reports suggesting the potential deployment of army personnel during the polls, saying these reports had drawn the attention of the military leadership.

“The Bangladesh Army believes that, under the direct supervision of law enforcement agencies and the overall management of university administrations, the upcoming student union elections will be conducted in a peaceful and festive atmosphere,” the statement read.

While affirming the Army’s neutrality, ISPR extended its best wishes for the successful and orderly conduct of the elections.

The clarification comes amid growing debate following an announcement by Dhaka University authorities on Tuesday that the military would be stationed as a “striking force” at the seven main entrances of the campus during the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, scheduled for September 9.