Chhatra Dal said on Monday that a "level playing field" had not been created ahead of the DUCSU election after it allegedly faced obstruction while collecting nomination papers for the hall union election at Dhaka University's Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.
The BNP's student wing said all student organisations have not been given equal footing in the residential halls.
Chhatra Dal submitted a written complaint to Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin, the chief returning officer of the DUCSU and hall union elections, in response to the incident.
The group made the accusations in a press briefing held at Madhu's Canteen on Monday afternoon, where a written statement was read out by the DU Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahos.
According to Ganesh, the university's Chhatra Dal leaders were collecting nomination forms required to participate in the DUCSU and hall union elections, as per the organisation's instructions.
He said when a few students went to the returning officer's office, they were met with attempts of assault to bar them from collecting the papers, by a student "mob" acting "on behalf of the administration".
He further accused the security officials present at the scene of failing to control the situation despite pleas from the victims.
Ultimately, the Chhatra Dal students had to leave the hall as they were unable to procure nomination papers.
"It is now definitively proven today [Monday] that there is a lack of a level playing field, due to the Dhaka University administration's repeated failures and the lack of measures against those creating disruptive mobs," he added.
The Chhatra Dal leaders demanded identifying the disruptors from the CCTV footage of the scene, calling for their exemplary punishment.
Moreover, they called on the administration to take steps to create a level playing field for all organisations to ensure a fair election.
Dhaka University Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon said, "Even after the July Uprising, criminals affiliated with Chhatra League are still present in various halls. They are obstructing the democratic process, and some clandestine groups allied with them are creating mob-like situations. Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were prevented from collecting nomination papers today."
Malicha Binte Khan, convener of the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall branch of the Chhatra Dal, claimed the hall lacked a democratic environment.
"There is no democratic environment in the hall. At 3:55pm, as I went to collect nomination papers in the company of several students, some individuals obstructed us, posing as ordinary students. Even after informing the administration, no action was taken. They prevented us from collecting the forms, forming a mob, and even attempted physical assault. We demand justice for this incident."
The University administration has formed a four-member investigation committee, following the reported incident.
The committee, headed by Assistant Proctor Robiul Islam, includes SM Arif Mahmud of the Anthropology Department, Assistant Proctor AKM Nur Alam Siddiqui, and Assistant Proctor Atiya Sanjida Shormi.
The committee has been instructed to submit its recommendations by Tuesday afternoon.
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