Meet Tasin Khan, the first woman to contest for Rucsu VP post in 63 years
She expressed her desire to be known for her work to serve the welfare of students, not just as a female candidate
Tasin Khan is set to contest for the vice-president (VP) post in the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) election. Since Rucsu was established in 1962, this will be the first time in its 63-year history that a woman has run for the VP position.
Tasin is a student of the Institute of Education and Research (2020–21 session) and a former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Although she had already submitted her nomination papers as an independent candidate, she announced her panel on 11 September. Bringing together other independents, she declared a 21-member panel titled Sharbajanin Shikkharthi Sangsad.
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In this panel, she will contest for the VP post, while Rajan Al Ahmed from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering will stand for General Secretary (GS), and Mahayer Islam from the Department of Arabic will run for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).
The names of the panel members were announced at a press conference held at 2pm on Thursday in front of the university's First Science Building.
Speaking at the conference on 11 September, Tasin said, "We are announcing this panel by prioritising student issues to build a democratic campus. Through participation in the Rucsu election, we want to transform the university into a true university and extend its benefits to the general public.
"This election has given us that opportunity. We want to build a real university by involving people of all ideologies. We want to be the voice of all students."
The polls, she said, would pave the way for democratic practice. "Here everyone, regardless of ideology, will have their say. We do not want to see any further display of muscle power on this 753-acre campus. We want to see intellectual practice here."
Tasin added that after the July 2024 Uprising she returned to normal life. She had opportunities to join political parties but did not. Seeing the Rucsu election become politically charged, she decided to run.
"Because I believe we must prevent the student union election from becoming politicised. If we vacate the field, it really will become political. That's why I am contesting for this post… to be a representative of ordinary students."
On being a female VP candidate, she said, "I don't want to be known as a female or male candidate. I want to be known for my work, which will serve the welfare of students."
She said her work would focus on creating an environment of democratic practice on campus and ensuring the voices of students from all ideologies are heard.
On reports of candidates facing cyberbullying, she noted that the Election Commission had formed a cell to prevent it, and expressed hope that it would function properly.
In Rucsu's 63-year history, elections have been held 14 times. Reviewing the list of winners shows that no woman has ever held the VP or GS posts.
Asked whether any woman had contested before, Ragib Ahsan Munna, who served as Rucsu VP in 1988-89, told the media that to his knowledge, no woman had ever stood for the VP position.
Rajshahi University was established in 1953, while Rucsu began in 1962. The last Rucsu election was held in 1989, when Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed (now a BNP leader) was elected VP, and Ruhul Quddus (then a Jasad Chhatra League leader) became GS.
Voting for Rucsu will take place on 25 September.
