Bangladeshi Muntaka Ahmed has been elected President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) for the 2020-2021 academic year.
The University of Toronto is one of the top universities in North America. Students from almost all countries of the world study in that university in Canada’s Ontario province.
Premier of Ontario Doug Ford congratulated Muntaka for her achievement. She is the daughter of Bangladesh Consul General in Toronto Nayem Uddin Ahmed.
Her victory also made the Bangladesh diaspora pride. Journalist Shaugat Ali Sagor, who lives in Toronto, in a facebook post, congratulated her, and said the news at a time of crisis due to coronavirus ‘made us ecstatic, hopeful’. Muntaka defeated Bryan Liceralde by 156 votes in the third round in the closely contested elections of 38,000 students.
The third presidential candidate, Arjun Kaul, was eliminated in the first round with 745 votes. Muntaka was elected with 1717 votes. Some 4818 students or 12.7 percent of the electorate voted in this election took place online, from 12 pm of March 21 to 5pm of March 25, due to coronavirus spread.
According to the thevarsity.ca that followed the election, Muntaka’s presidential platform focused on equity and she hoped that by running she would provide a pathway for others who do not see themselves represented in leadership positions.
In addition, she wishes to implement more engaging programming beyond Orientation, Frost Week, and Unity Ball and also improve upon the union’s consultation with student groups.
Muntaka has robust experience in positions of power in the University of Toronto. She has worked as an executive assistant in the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), vice-president finance for the Muslim Students’ Association, and a marketing co-director of the Bangladeshi Students’ Association.
This strong resumé assures student voters that, if elected, she would bring experience and expertise to the position of UTSU president, according to thevarsity.ca.