DUCSU Polls: Voting at Kuwait Maitree Hall suspended for ballot stuffing

The voting of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election at Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall was suspended due to ballot stuffing as sacks filled with stamped ballots were found on the dormitory premises on Monday morning. 

The proctor of the hall confirmed about the suspension of voting. Notable, the ballots were stamped on the symbols of the candidates of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

BCL is the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.

Several students from Kuwait Maitree hall said that despite the claim of the candidates the hall provost did not open and show the empty ballot boxes as per the rules in front of them before the voting started.

The proctor along with the provost came by 7:50am and took the boxes into the reading room of the hall and later, the voters found those sealed ballot papers in sacks, they added.

Independent candidate for VP (vice president) post Nurunnahar Koli alleged that they had found a sack containing sealed ballot papers for BCL panel candidates.

Dhaka University proctor Golam Rabbani said to Prothom Alo, "We've found proofs of sealed ballot papers."

DU pro-VC (administration) Muhammad Samad said that the voting will begin afresh at 11:00am again. 

Meanwhile, the DU authorities suspended acting provost of the hall Shabnam Jahan.

Professor Mahbuba Nasreen has been appointed as the new provost, said pro-VC Muhammad Samad.

Source: Prothom Alo