Jucsu: several panels yet to be announced, final candidate list expected on Friday

As Jahangirnagar University prepares for its central students' union (Jucsu) elections, several major student parties have yet to finalise their panels.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Student Union, and two factions of Student Front are still deliberating over candidates, even as today marks the final day for nomination withdrawals. The final candidate list is expected to be released on Friday.

Multiple Chhatra Dal leaders attribute the delay to disagreements over hall committee selections. According to insiders, conflicting preferences among party leaders have prevented a unified panel announcement. 

However, Mahbubur Rahman Murad, a senior member of Chhatra Dal's university unit, noted that the large pool of eligible candidates has made the selection process challenging. "We hope to announce a strong and well-considered panel," he said.

Sadikur Rahman, member of the convening committee, said that the committee formed on 8 January had failed to declare a full hall committee within the stipulated period. Nominations proposed by conveners also included individuals deemed controversial or unsuitable by other leaders, creating disputes that required escalation to central authorities.

Meanwhile, Islami Chhatra Shibir and Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad have already announced full panels under the banners of Shikkharthi Oikko Forum and Shomonnito Shikkharthi Jot, respectively, positioning themselves ahead in the pre-election race.

Left-leaning alliance includes independent candidates

Zahidul Islam Emon, president of one faction of the Bangladesh Student Union, told The Business Standard, "As in previous years, Bangladesh Student Union and Student Front have worked together for the university's welfare. This year, we continue on the same path."

He added that their panel includes candidates independent of party politics, uniting students who have remained steadfast on issues of Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty. 

Another Student Union leader, Adri Ankur, said, "Through our long struggle, students of diverse ideologies and backgrounds have always united for movements. Our panel reflects this unity and will be announced soon via a press conference."

Several posts remain vacant

The draft candidate list released by the Election Commission shows that for the Central Student Union, 256 candidates have registered for 25 posts, and for the 21 hall unions, 467 candidates for 21 posts, totalling 723 candidates.

Among 315 hall posts, 134 are uncontested, and 62 have no candidates. In female halls, 54 posts remain vacant across 10 halls, while 8 posts in male halls are unfilled. These numbers may change in the final list due to ongoing appeals and last-minute withdrawals.

To ensure voter verification, the Election Commission has decided to release a photo-verified voter list for both Jucsu and hall elections. Commission Member-Secretary Prof AKM Rashidul Alam said, "We have already provided the necessary information to the relevant authorities. We hope the voter list will be published before the election, ensuring identity verification for all voters."

Following nomination submissions, 20 students' candidacies were initially canceled. After appeal hearings, 15 nominations were restored, Prof Alam confirmed during the appeal hearing at the Central Senate Building today (27 August).

Meanwhile, a vice-presidential candidate began a hunger strike at the Election Commission office from 1:30pm yesterday, demanding mandatory doping tests for all candidates.

Rabbi Hossain, the candidate on strike, said, "Even though doping tests are mandatory, the administration has not implemented them. My sole demand is that all candidates undergo tests immediately, and the results are made public transparently. This is a difficult struggle, but essential for maintaining the integrity of future leadership."