Braille Ballots Bring Breakthrough in DUCSU Election
Faruk Howlader, a visually impaired residential student of Surya Sen Hall at Dhaka University, expressed his excitement after casting his vote through the Braille system in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.
On Tuesday, September 9, at around 10:30 am, he cast his vote using Braille at the Udayan School polling center. Speaking to journalists, he said it had been a wonderful experience, and he hoped the same system would be introduced in the national elections.
Faruk Howlader said, “I thank the university authorities for making the Braille system available. I was able to vote independently using Braille.”
He added, “It has been a wonderful experience for me. I hope the Braille system will also be introduced in the national elections.”
This year, for the first time, the DUCSU election introduced Braille ballots for visually impaired students.
Returning Officer of DUCSU, Professor SM Shamim Reza, told The Daily Star that the authorities made this system available for 31 students at the university.
Professor Shamim Reza further noted that special arrangements were made at Udayan Higher Secondary School for nine visually impaired students. Some of them used the Braille system to cast their votes, while others voted with assistance. By midday, five had already voted.
