Some ballot papers printed in Nilkhet

Acknowledging that some ballot papers for the recent Ducsu election were printed in Nilkhet, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan yesterday ruled out any possibility of vote rigging with those papers.

"There is no opportunity for anyone to carry it in their pocket to the centre or use it," the VC said.

Printing the ballot papers in Nilkhet "did not compromise the integrity of the election process", he said at an emergency press conference at the university, as allegations of irregularities in the voting have been raised.

He, however, said, "We are embarrassed by this situation because the associate vendor failed to inform us on time."

The VC said printing ballots -- regardless of its location-- and cutting them are the initial steps of the process. "The security phase involves at least five layers, and in some cases, six."

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) and hall union elections were held on September 9. Since then, panels backed by Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, leftist groups, and independents have alleged irregularities and partiality, pointing to the ballots being printed at an unsecured location in Nilkhet.

Niaz Ahmed said, "The location or quantity of ballot paper printing does not affect election fairness. Several steps must be completed to fully prepare ballot papers for voting."