BNP panel for smooth holding of DU senate registered graduates polls

BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Parishad on Thursday urged the Dhaka University administration to ensure a congenial atmosphere on the campus so that voters can cast their votes smoothly in the universality’s senate registered graduate representatives’ final phase election billed for Saturday.

Prof Akhter Hossian, the joint convener of the Jatiyatabadi Parishad’s election steering committee, made the call at a press conference at Dhaka University Club, reports the UNB.

He said two phases of the election were held by the time at 42 polling stations outside Dhaka on January 6 and 13. ‘We would like to say with anger that we could carry out electioneering at many centres smoothly while our supporters came under attacks at some centres.’

Hossain said they hope the DU authorities will take proper steps to fend off any untoward incident on the campus during the last phase of the polls to uphold the tradition and dignity of the country’s premier university.

Otherwise, he said, the university administration will be held responsible if any unpleasant incident occurs.  

Hossain alleged that their voters are being threatened and intimidated in some places by their opponents.

The third and final phase of election to choose 25 registered graduate representatives of the Dhaka University senate will be held on Saturday at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, TSC and Physical Training centres.

The voting will begin at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm on Saturday.

The results of the polls will be declared the following day.Jatiyatabadi Parishad candidates, including Prof Zeenatun Neesa Tahmida Begum, journalist Shawkat Mahmud, Prof Umme Kulsum Rowzatur Romman, Prof ABM Fazlul Karim, Fazlul Haque Milon, ABM Mosharraf Hossain and Saiful Islam Firoz, were present.

In the last election in 2013, Awami League-supported’ panel Gonotantrik Oikya Parishad got 18 seats and BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Parishad bagged seven seats.