Outrage ranged across the DU campus as news broke of the candidacy of Julius Caesar Talukder, a former leader of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU).
According to the official schedule, 12 August was the last date to submit nomination papers for the DUCSU elections.
Julius Caesar Talukder confirmed his candidacy through a Facebook post mentioning that he has collected a nomination form on Tuesday to contest for the vice president (VP) post in the upcoming DUCSU, and hall union elections.
Immediately after the announcement, discussions flared up across campus, with many students voicing strong objections.
Later, a group of students submitted written and verbal complaints to the chief returning officer.
Furthermore, evidence of Talukder's involvement in violence during the 2019 DUCSU elections has resurfaced on social media.
Tasnim Afroz Emi, the then VP of Shamsunnahar Hall, shared a Facebook post stating, "When Chhatra League activists beat up a student named Farid, and thrown out him from the Salimullah Muslim (SM) Hall, a few of us went to protest.
"That's when we were attacked under Talukder's leadership."
She also attached a photo as evidence of the alleged violence.
Recalling a violent incident involving Julius Caesar Talukder, former student Azhar Uddin Anik shared a post from 2019 on Facebook, mentioning, "The day Julius Caesar attacked us – six years ago.
"While many others were just pelted with eggs, a few of us were beaten to the ground, and kicked. As far as I remember, Faisal Bhai and I took the worst of it while trying to save our female comrades."
Former Chhatra Shibir president (DU unit) Sadiq Kayem shared a Facebook post stating, "Despite having clear evidence of Talukder's offenses, the university authority's decision to allow his nomination has left other students disappointed, and outraged."
However, Talukder shared a video message on his social media, where he remarked, "Election is the highest court where the student voters are the judges. Their votes will be my verdict."
Talukder has been running a platform called "Nirapotta Moncho" since 2019, which provided students with various legal and financial assistance.
He previously served as general secretary of SM Hall from the Chhatra League panel in the 2019 DUCSU election and as joint general secretary of the hall unit in 2017.
Earlier, on 29 July, the schedule for the DUCSU election was announced, setting the election date for 9 September, including detailed guidelines about voter eligibility.
A decision was also made regarding the voting rights of students from the 2018-19 academic session. Some students have also raised questions about the legitimacy of Talukder's current studentship status.
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