TDS Desk:

At the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) elections, while 41 candidates were up for voting across central and hall unions, many students chose not to vote for all posts.

Between 10:30am and 12:30pm on Tuesday correspondents visiting the TSC and Physical Education Centre polling stations noted several voters selectively casting ballots.

Students said they refrained from voting for certain posts because they were unfamiliar with the candidates. Many candidates had not reached out to students personally, leaving voters uncertain about their choices, they said.

Others cited the time-consuming nature of the process, opting to vote only for candidates they knew.

After voting at the Physical Education Centre, Aniket Zowarder, a computer science student from Jagannath Hall, told The Daily Star, “I voted for 29 candidates. I didn’t find suitable candidates for every post, and I didn’t know many of them personally.”

At the TSC, a female student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “I cast votes for 12 posts only. I didn’t vote for positions where I didn’t know the candidates.”

At least 25 other students from the two centres reported not voting in all 41 posts, casting ballots for 25, 35, or 37 candidates.

A student from Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall said he abstained from the 13 hall posts as he does not reside there.

Professor Nasrin Sultana, returning officer at the TSC polling centre, told The Daily Star, “Voting is proceeding enthusiastically. Students are standing under the sun to vote for their preferred candidates. So far, we have received no complaints.”

Professor Moshahida Sultana, while inspecting Physical Education Centre, said, “Students remain keen to vote, even if it takes a long time… Additionally, several candidates have reported a shortage of polling agents; adequate numbers were not provided as requested.”