Jahangirnagar University prepares for first Jucsu polls in 33 years tomorrow
This year, 177 candidates are contesting 25 positions in the central students’ union while 445 are competing for seats in the hall union
The long-awaited Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election will be held tomorrow (11 September), ending a 33-year hiatus.
Since the university's establishment, 9 Jucsu elections have been held. The first took place in 1972, while the last was in 1992. In 1992 elections, Masud Hasan Talukder and Shamsul Tabriz from a panel backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP's student wing, were elected vice-president and general secretary respectively.
In 1993, the administration dissolved Jucsu and the hall parliament following a clash triggered by the expulsion of a student. No election has been held since.
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This year, 177 candidates are contesting 25 positions in the Jucsu elections, while 445 are competing for seats in the hall unions. Nine are vying for vice-president and 8 for general secretary.
Independent candidate Syeda Ananya Faria has withdrawn from the GS race, while Amartya Roy, VP candidate from the Shompriti'r Oikyo panel, will not be able to run after a High Court order reinstating his candidacy was stayed by the Chamber Court.
Yesterday (9 September), candidates spent their final day of campaigning busy with election activities. They said that although it was not possible to reach all voters, they hoped students would consider merit and vote for those capable of working in their interest.
8 panels in the race
A total of 8 panels are contesting, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and the Democratic Students' Union.
For the first time, the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Union (Bagchas), formed after the mass uprising, is taking part in the polls.
Three leftist groups have floated separate panels, two independent panels are contesting, and several candidates are running individually.
224 booths; police and Ansar for security
The Jucsu Election Commission has announced 224 polling stations across university halls.
Voters will cast ballots by ticking the paper, with one ballot box allocated for every 200 ballots. Separate boxes will be used for the central and hall students' union elections.
Sixty-seven teachers will oversee the polls as presiding officers and assistants. To maintain order, more than 1,000 police officers will be deployed at the 12 university entrances, while Ansar members will provide security inside polling stations.
No hall union polls in 2 female dormitories
In the hall union elections, Begum Sufia Kamal Hall and Nawab Faizunnesa Hall will not see voting, as all candidates there were elected unopposed.
Only central union elections will be held in these halls.
In Begum Sufia Kamal Hall, 10 out of 15 positions were filled uncontested, with 5 left vacant due to no candidates. In Nawab Faizunnesa Hall, 6 positions were uncontested while 9 remain vacant.
25 minority candidates to participate
A total of 25 candidates from minority communities are running this time.
The Unity of Harmony panel includes 7 indigenous, 5 Sanatan, 3 Buddhist, and 2 Christian candidates.
The Student Unity Forum has 1 indigenous candidate, the Chhatra Dal-backed panel 1 Sanatan candidate, and each of 2 independent panels 1 Sanatan candidate. Four additional minority candidates are standing as independents.
Professor Mafruhi Sattar, a member of the Jucsu Election Commission, said they were working to ensure a transparent and participatory election.
He urged students to exercise their voting rights and elect deserving candidates.
