Umama Fatema, VP candidate for an independent panel in the DUCSU elections, has apologised for violating the election code of conduct. She submitted a written apology to the Provost of Begum Rokeya Hall on Monday, acknowledging the breach.
In a post from her verified Facebook profile on Monday (August 25), Umama shared details of the incident and her explanation.
The former spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement admitted that while Dhaka University regulations do not permit students to stay overnight in halls other than their own, many female students often do so to stay with friends. “I had been under prolonged mental and physical stress, and entered Rokeya Hall before 10pm to stay with a friend. However, I did not go there for any election-related activity,” she wrote.
She explained that she briefly left the room at 1:30am but soon returned and fell asleep. “Around 3:30am, I was woken by my friend’s roommate and learned that false information about my presence in the hall was spreading on Facebook. My phone began receiving frequent calls, and I was informed that the hall administration was looking for me,” she added.
In response, she contacted the hall provost and met with her to clarify the situation.
Umama strongly denied claims circulating on social media that she entered the hall at 1:30am, calling them “completely false and intentional.”
In her letter, Umama requested that female students be allowed to enter other halls by showing their university ID cards.
