Jucsu polls: Mixed reactions as vote counting drags on
Even after a long delay, the Jucsu election commission officials could not give a specific time for when the process might be completed
There have been mixed reactions among candidates as vote counting for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) and hall union elections has been progressing at a snail's pace since tallying began at 10pm yesterday (11 September), amid allegations of irregularities, ballot stuffing and administrative bias.
Even after a long delay, the Jucsu election commission officials could not give a specific time for when the process might be completed.
Election commissioner Professor Lutful Elahi told The Business Standard at around 1pm today (12 September), "Counting has finished in 18 out of 21 halls (for hall unions). Counting is underway in three halls. After the prayer break, the vote counting for the central council will start at 2:30pm."
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Md Majharul Islam, general secretary candidate of Islami Chhatra Shibir's Samonnito Chhatro Jote panel, called for more staff in order to speed up the counting process.
Touhid Mohammad Siam, GS candidate of the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad's Chhatro Oikko Forum, said the long delay is raising concerns over transparency, suggesting that all panels could agree to use the OMR (optical mark reader) system for counting.
Siam added, "Manual counting is time-consuming and difficult. Those counting votes are not fully skilled, so delays are expected. Candidates were not given the opportunity to know their vote numbers as the counting progressed. If the administration provided this, the election would be more transparent."
"Since counting is taking so long, suspicion arises. If all panels agree, the election commission could move to the OMR system," he further added.
Shibir's Majharul said, "Using the old manual system in 2025 is not appropriate. It would have been better to use the OMR system."
He added that the Chhatra Dal made false claims about Shibir's role in OMR, which has delayed counting. "The administration also decided to count votes manually following the Chhatra Dal's demand. Our teachers and returning officers have been working since last night, but staff shortage is slowing the process."
Meanwhile, some polling officers coming out after completing their vote count have said the Jucsu results might not be available until tonight.
