Peaceful but flawed: What Ducsu and Jucsu polls reveal about the state of Bangladesh’s electoral democracy
Experts and political analysts explore whether these campus polls serve as a dress rehearsal for the national stage, highlighting a deeper crisis of confidence in electoral institutions
While the Ducsu polls were relatively well-organised, the Jucsu elections were marred by mismanagement, and allegations of rigging—raising alarms ahead of Bangladesh's 2026 national election.
Experts and political analysts explore whether these campus polls serve as a dress rehearsal for the national stage, highlighting a deeper crisis of confidence in electoral institutions. Can the ensuing lessons from student polls translate into more concrete plans ahead of the national election? The Business Standard has talked to experts and political analysts to hear their thoughts on the matter.
Jucsu irregularities raise alarming questions ahead of national election
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Dr Hasanuzzaman Choudhury
Retired Professor of Political Science, University of Dhaka
The irregularities in the Jucsu election stemmed from the actions of the authorities. It is truly shameful that counting the votes took several days. In contrast, the Ducsu election was well-conducted. If approximately 30,000 votes in the Ducsu election were counted fairly, the government could claim it has the capacity to organise a national election. However, Jucsu tells a different story.
What transpired at Jahangirnagar University is an ominous sign. We must ensure that such incidents are not repeated during the national elections. Many argue that these university elections will have no bearing on the national polls, but that is far from the truth—the impact will be felt in every sense.
Our Election Commission claims it lacks the funds to install CCTV cameras at polling centres. You've seen the chaos that unfolded during the university elections; without surveillance, the national election could descend into utter disorder. If such chaos ensues during the national polls, it would betray the spirit of the July Uprising and serve the interests of Indian hegemony and its fallen local collaborators. We must not allow this to happen—which is why the Jucsu election is deeply alarming.
A well-managed Ducsu election and a disastrously handled Jucsu poll also serve as metaphors for a national election riddled with irregularities in many centres, even if some are run properly—or vice versa. Jucsu has set a dangerous precedent. It is shocking to think that supposedly educated individuals managed the process with such staggering incompetence.
A crisis of confidence during national election is evident
Dr Mohammad Mozahid
Professor, Department of History, Jahangirnagar University
National elections and university student council elections are completely different. We must not conflate the two. The Jucsu election is questionable. The sheer mismanagement seen in this election is unprecedented. The mismanagement is due to the issues with the university administration.
And after the July Uprising, we have seen changes in the university administrations across the country. The way the new administrative changes have occurred is controversial. The university administration has not been ready for the election. The teachers in charge were not prepared enough. And the two sides—the nationalist teachers and the pro-Jaamat teachers—suffered from mutual lack of trust. The lack of preparation and trust has created the problem.
We can call it a dress rehearsal of the national election. At least, we know for sure that there will be a confidence crisis during the national election. However, I want to see the absence of violence in both elections positively. There was mismanagement and lack of confidence, but the situations were peaceful. This is a positive change.
University authorities should address the allegations regarding Ducsu and Jucsu
Firoz Ahmed
Member of Constitution Reform Commission
The reason why Ducsu, Jucsu and Rucsu are important in our national politics is because since countries like Bangladesh, India or Pakistan have weak institutions, the student or workers' organisations play an important role to secure the rights of the people. And perhaps in no other country do we see rigging in university student council elections. We have seen it in Bangladesh since 1973.
There have been questions raised regarding the Ducsu election. I hope the university authorities will clarify the questions and the allegations. The controversies remain, and to ensure utmost accountability and fairness, there should be a system to make sure the defeated parties admit that their rival has won and congratulate them, despite not subscribing to their ideology. So, more fairness could have been ensured in Ducsu and Jucsu to make the rivals admit that the other has won, and it was the university authorities' duty.
We have seen many supporters and activists of the parties gather near the universities (DU and JU); and they were anxious. The interim government stands on a delicate balance; nobody is disturbing the balance. But unless the ills can be eradicated, the old system may come back.
Jucsu shortcomings offer lessons for managing national polls better
Dr Zahed Ur Rahman
Political Analyst
The recently held Ducsu and Jucsu elections—the first under the interim government—were widely anticipated as a testing ground for the country's electoral management. While the Ducsu polls went relatively smoothly, allegations of mismanagement and irregularities in the Jucsu election have raised concerns.
Student elections are always politically sensitive, often reflecting the broader democratic atmosphere of the nation. The allegations of mismanagement have therefore led to understandable anxiety about whether the upcoming national election in February 2026 may face similar challenges.
That said, the national election cannot be equated with campus polls. Unlike student body elections, which are often less structured and more vulnerable to partisan capture, a parliamentary election is a far more institutionalised process. The Election Commission, backed by administrative machinery and the armed forces, ensures a more comprehensive framework for oversight and accountability. The army's deployment, in particular, acts as a stabilising force, giving voters confidence in security and fairness.
It is important to acknowledge, however, that allegations—even in student elections—must be taken seriously. They highlight the need for stronger preparation and transparency. If the interim government can learn from the shortcomings of Jucsu and implement stricter monitoring, the national polls could be better managed.
Ultimately, while missteps in campus elections are worrying, they should not be seen as a prediction of national instability. With robust institutions, security deployment, and heightened international scrutiny, there is good reason to expect a fairer and more credible national election. The real test lies in the government's ability to translate lessons from these smaller elections into safeguards for the February 2026 national election.
