People have been standing in long queues to cast their votes in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) polls, since voting began.
Voting began around 8am on Monday, yet a non-resident engineering student from the Urban and Rural Planning Department—from Muhammad Shahidullah Hall—requesting to remain anonymous, said he had been waiting in line for three hours to cast his vote.
"I came around 8:30am," he told the Dhaka Tribune. "But, I have been standing in the line for three hours. I still have not been able to go inside."
A second-year student from the Software Engineering department, also requesting to remain anonymous, said: "I have been standing here for 45 minutes. We have no idea what is causing the delay; we have just been standing outside. Maybe the authorities are having problems inside.
"However, I am determined to cast my vote, as I am a first-time voter," the student added.
Dhaka Tribune reporters visited seven residence halls—Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Bijoy Ekattor, Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman, Kabi Jasimuddin, Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, Rokeya Hall, and the Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall—and found long queues in front of every hall, as election officials were taking time to verify student identity cards.
Voting was suspended for nearly an hour at the Kuwait Maitree Hall due to allegations of ballot-stuffing and irregularities. Voting has also been suspended at Rokeya Hall.
Returning Officer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall Professor Abdus Sabur Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that they are cross-checking every student's identity with their university identity cards; which is causing a minor delay to voting.
Muhammad Shahidullah Hall Provost Professor Dr Syed Humayun Akhter said: "There are 2,052 voters, and 30 voting booths. Until 11am, 550 votes had been cast.
"We will ensure that whoever is present on the campus is able to cast their vote," he said.
A total of 42,923 voters under the age of 30, from 18 halls, are taking part in the Ducsu and hall union elections, which is being held after 28 years. The last Ducsu election was held on June 6, 1990.
According to the final list published by the chief returning officer's office, a total 229 candidates are contesting 25 central positions, while in the hall union elections, in each of the 18 halls, a total 509 candidates are contesting for 13 positions.
