DUCSU Digital Disruptions Dismay Candidates

The Facebook account of Shadik Kayem, vice-presidential candidate from the Shibir-backed panel in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, has reportedly become inaccessible. As of Monday afternoon, September 8, his profile could not be found through a Facebook search.

GS candidate SM Forhad, also from the same panel, raised similar complaints on social media. He wrote, “Our panel’s candidates’ accounts are constantly under cyber attack. Several accounts have already been suspended. Some accounts are logging out repeatedly. Allah help us.”

Earlier, at a press briefing held in Madhu’s Canteen, VP candidate Abidul Islam Khan, GS candidate Tanvir Bari Hamim, and AGS candidate Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed, all backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, alleged that their accounts had been disabled. However, later in the afternoon, Abid posted on Facebook stating, “Although my Facebook account has been restored after Meta’s review, my election website voteforabid.com, which contains my online manifesto, has now been disabled.”

Neither panel could identify who was behind the disruptions or the reasons, though both suspected that a group might be attempting to derail the DUCSU election or obstruct candidates from campaigning.

This year’s DUCSU election has 471 candidates in contention, including 62 women and 409 men. The electorate comprises 39,775 registered voters. Panels have been fielded by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, the left alliance, Islami Chhatra Andolon, Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, while several hundred candidates are contesting independently. Polling is scheduled for September 9.