Jahangirnagar University prepares for first Jucsu election in 33 years
Jucsu was first formed in 1972, shortly after the establishment of Jahangirnagar University. Since then, the election has been held only nine times, making this year’s vote a significant event on the campus
Highlights
- Jucsu polls to be held on 11 September
- Nomination papers to be collected and submitted on 18–19 August
- Final candidate list to be published on 29 August
- Campaigning allowed only between 29 August and 9 September
- No microphones or sound devices permitted during campaigning
- Use of motorised vehicles or torch processions in campaigns banned
- Campaign spending limit capped at Tk5,000 for central union polls
The long-awaited Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election is set to take place on 11 September, after a gap of 33 years.
The university's election commission has announced the schedule along with the constitution and code of conduct that candidates must follow.
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Jucsu was first formed in 1972, shortly after the establishment of Jahangirnagar University. Since then, the election has been held only nine times, making this year's vote a significant event on the campus.
According to the announced schedule, nomination papers can be collected and submitted on 18 and 19 August between 9am and 4pm.
After verification, the draft list of candidates will be released on 25 August. Appeals regarding rejected nominations can be filed on 26 August, with verdicts to be announced the following day.
Candidates wishing to withdraw must do so by 28 August at 4pm, while the final list will be published on 29 August. Campaigning will be permitted from 4pm on 29 August until midnight on 9 September.
Voter and candidate eligibility
Only regular undergraduate students within six years of enrolment and postgraduate students within two years will be included in the voter list.
Exceptions will apply for departments such as pharmacy and fine arts, where course durations vary. However, MPhil, PhD, weekend, and evening programme students, along with irregular students, will be excluded.
Students must clear all dues to the university and their hall to be eligible to vote or run for office. No candidate can contest more than one position.
To file a nomination, a student must secure support from one proposer and one seconder, and provide written consent.
Rules of conduct
The election commission has outlined a detailed code of conduct. Campaigning is prohibited before the designated period, and meetings require prior written approval from the authorities.
The use of microphones or loudspeakers is banned.
Candidates and their supporters are barred from making defamatory, provocative, or communal remarks, whether in person, on social media, or in the press.
They must also refrain from incitement or unruly behaviour during the campaign.
No motorised vehicles, including motorcycles, private cars, and pickup vans, may be used in campaigns.
Torch processions, shows of force, or processions during the submission of nominations are strictly prohibited.
Posters and banners may only display the candidate's name, symbol, and photograph.
The size of posters must not exceed 40 by 30 centimetres, and graffiti on university property is forbidden.
Spending limits and polling rules
Candidates must adhere to spending limits: Tk2,000 for hall-level elections and Tk5,000 for the central union.
Access to polling stations will be restricted to election officers, staff, candidates, polling agents, election observers, and registered voters. Candidates' workers will not be allowed to loiter inside polling centres, and polling agents must remain in their designated places.
Penalties for violations
The election commission has stated that violations of the code of conduct may result in the cancellation of candidacy.
"If any candidate or their supporters fail to provide a satisfactory defence, the commission will cancel their nomination and recommend disciplinary measures," the guidelines note.
Any attempt to sabotage the election will be treated as a serious offence under the Jahangirnagar University Students' Disciplinary Ordinance 2018, and in some cases, may be considered a criminal act requiring state-level legal action.
With just weeks remaining, the campus is preparing for a contest many students have never experienced before, one that is expected to reshape student politics at Jahangirnagar University.
