Tension at TSC as JCD accuses DU admin of vote rigging

Tension gripped Dhaka University’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on Tuesday evening as candidates and supporters from multiple student panels, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, accused the university administration of manipulating the vote count in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections.

The confrontation unfolded around 6:30 pm when Abidul Islam, the Chhatra Dal-backed candidate for Vice President, along with candidates from other independent and alliance panels, arrived at the TSC demanding access to the vote-counting hall. 

They alleged that the administration was obstructing transparency by not allowing neutral observers inside while selectively permitting representatives from Islami Chhatra Shibir to enter.

Protesters gathered outside the TSC gates, chanting slogans such as “Vote thief, vote thief, Shibir vote thief!” and “Farce election — accept or not!”, accusing the administration of orchestrating a biased process to ensure a Shibir victory.

They raised serious concerns over the lack of transparency, pointing out that the ballot boxes were no longer being displayed on the LED screen broadcasting the vote count. 

“We haven’t seen the ballot boxes on the screen for a long time,” said Hasibul Islam, an independent candidate from the AGS panel. “They are hiding the boxes and rigging the count behind closed doors. Only Shibir candidates are being allowed inside — our access is being deliberately blocked.”

Despite repeated demands, the administration denied entry for nearly half an hour. It was only around 7:00 pm that the gates were opened, but by then, the protesting candidates had rejected the belated permission.

“We were only allowed in after they had already tampered with the process,” said Abidul Islam, addressing journalists after leaving the premises. “The administration is trying to legitimize a rigged count by allowing us in late. We do not accept this farce of an election.”

Following the incident, the live broadcast on the TSC’s LED screen was abruptly taken down and has remained offline since, further fueling suspicions of irregularities.

The allegations have cast a shadow over the credibility of the DUCSU elections, long seen as a symbol of student democracy in Bangladesh. Student leaders from across panels are now demanding an independent audit of the ballots and a transparent recount, warning that the legitimacy of the results hangs in the balance.

As frustration mounts on campus, calls are growing for the DU administration to ensure impartiality and uphold democratic norms in one of the country’s most high-stakes student elections in years.