Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed Vice President candidate Abidul Islam Khan in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections, on Tuesday said that the attempts to tarnish students' reputation through spreading misinformation cannot be accepted.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference held at Madhu’s Canteen on Tuesday afternoon after voting ended.
“We had hoped that just as the fascists were ousted from the soil of Dhaka University after the mass uprising and the political degeneration was uprooted, we would also give the entire Bangladesh a beautiful culture through a fair and culturally dignified election from the grounds of Dhaka University,” he said.
He alleged that he has been facing cyberattacks online and that a fresh wave of disinformation targeting him began early Tuesday.
“False claims were made accusing me of violating the electoral code of conduct by forcefully entering the polling center in the morning. Such misinformation and disinformation, spread even by a responsible returning officer of the university, has caused confusion among journalists and the public,” Abid said.
He further stated that attempts by the election commissioner to defame candidates before general students by circulating false information are completely unacceptable.
Abid also alleged that the election officer at Rokeya Hall threatened to revoke the studentship of one of their candidates for distributing ballot numbers while members of another student group were allowed to do the same without interference.
"Even the media has exposed irregularities in the election process," he added.
A written complaint on these issues has been submitted to the authorities, he said.
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During the press briefing, Abid also expressed condolences over the death of a journalist while covering the election.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, general secretary candidate from the same BNP-backed panel, said, “Today it has been proven that a spineless administration cannot stand upright.”