In a symbolic protest against the January 7, 2024 elections, students at Dhaka University held a mock election event, parodying the process. The event, titled "Election Exhibition and Voting Competition," was organized by the "Dhaka University Students Rights Watch" platform on the university campus at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, January 7.

The students used the slogan "More votes, more notes" as they participated in the mock election. Before casting their votes, participants were given 'sample' money, a satire aimed at illustrating what they deemed as irregularities in the electoral system.

The event was held at the historic banyan tree area near the Faculty of Arts building. During the mock election, students displayed placards with various slogans, including "Free and fair vote," "Midnight vote," "Dummy election," "Ten Honda, Ten Gonda, Cold election," "The Fascist Awami," and "Your father's vote has also been cast, but your father is dead."

The main attraction of the event was a competition to see who could cast the most votes in a minute. One participant was even seen dressed in a shroud, symbolizing a deceased person, as they cast their vote. Additionally, a one-year-old child was brought in as a symbolic voter. The event also featured a mock election commission, where Abdul Awal was seen acting as the election commissioner, and others played the roles of presiding and assistant presiding officers.

The organizers explained that this event was a response to the real election on January 7, 2024, where, despite a boycott by major political parties, the government led by Sheikh Hasina proceeded with a "dummy election." Allegations surfaced that voters, including deceased individuals and expatriates, were cast in the election. The Election Commission claimed that nearly 40 percent of voters participated, even though voter turnout was reported to be minimal.

One student, dressed in a shroud, remarked, "In previous years, when I was alive, I couldn’t vote. But even after my death, my vote was cast. Today, I’ve come to vote from the grave as a symbolic protest."

He further added, "Over the last 16 years, those who were deceased or living abroad were also reported to have voted. That's why I am here today, taking part in this symbolic protest."

Mossaddik Ali Ibn Muhammad, a student from the Department of Bengali, also shared his thoughts: "You all know that the Awami League has been denying voting rights for the past 16 years. They created a farce under the name of elections, where they acted as both the ruling and opposition parties. During those elections, even the dead came to vote."

He continued, "Today, we have organized this mock voting competition to express our dissent. Many of us have cast symbolic votes, and we have provided 'dummy' notes as part of the protest. Several journalists from print and electronic media, who couldn't vote in the last elections, also participated today."

The event attracted attention for its stark commentary on the perceived flaws in the electoral process, drawing attention to allegations of voter manipulation and irregularities in past elections. By staging this symbolic election, the students aimed to highlight the importance of transparent, free, and fair elections, and to express their dissatisfaction with the current political system.