Transparent ballot boxes too costly for student polls: Cucsu chief election commissioner
Using transparent boxes to fit such ballots would require custom orders, making it expensive, he says
Highlights:
- CU to hold long-awaited Cucsu polls on 12 October
- Election will fill 28 central posts; draft voter list shows 25,860 registered voters
- Transparent ballot boxes ruled out due to high cost; steel boxes to be used instead
- Dope tests mandatory for all candidates; positive results will cancel candidacy
- Polling centres to be larger than Ducsu's to ensure voter comfort
- Mobiles and bags banned inside polling booths
- Cucsu CEC promises transparent election despite concerns over management committee's political affiliations
Chittagong University is set to hold its long-awaited Central Students' Union (Cucsu) election on 12 October, 36 years after the last election in 1990. The election will fill 28 central posts, following amendments to the Cucsu constitution.
Professor Monir Uddin, Chief Election Commissioner of Cucsu, has raised concerns about the cost of using transparent ballot boxes.
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"Yesterday, steel ballot boxes were used in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election. Initially, we had planned to use similar boxes for Cucsu," he said.
He explained that student union elections require large ballots, often 15–20 pages long, unlike national elections, where the ballots take up less space to submit. Using transparent boxes to fit such ballots would require custom orders, making it expensive. Budget limitations further restrict the use of such boxes in the Cucsu election.
Speaking to The Business Standard this afternoon, Monir Uddin shared lessons from Cucsu's observation of the Ducsu election. A three-member team, including him as Chief Election Commissioner, served as election observers.
He noted that Ducsu voting centers were compact due to boundary planning, causing inconvenience for voters. At Cucsu, larger faculties are being considered as polling centers to ensure voter comfort.
Students will not be allowed to bring mobile phones, devices, or bags into booths. Facilities will be provided at polling centers to store such items.
Cucsu plans to set up additional booths to better accommodate voters. Vote counting will use separate ballot-paper boxes, unlike DUCSU, where all ballots were placed in a single box, causing delays while sorting them.
OMR scanning may also be used for counting, with an estimated minimum cost of Tk. 25 lakh.
The election schedule was announced on 28 August. The draft voter list, including 25,860 registered voters, was published on 1 September, while the final voter list will be released on 11 September.
Nomination papers will be distributed from 14 September and must be submitted by 3:30pm on 17 September.
Verification will take place on 18 September, and the preliminary candidate list will be published on 21 September. Candidates can withdraw by 3:30pm on 23 September.
Objections and resolutions will conclude by 3:30pm on 24 September, with the final candidate list published on 25 September.
Following the final list announcement, the university will close for Durga Puja holidays from 26 September to 4 October. Prof Monir Uddin said candidates will have an extra week after the holidays for campaigning, both online and within residence halls, so the holiday period will not affect promotion.
The Cucsu election management committee consists of 12 members, including teachers aligned with BNP and Jamaat. Concerns have been raised about potential influence.
However, the Chief Election Commissioner assured that the election will be conducted transparently. Administrative oversight ensures that teachers cannot interfere in the process.
Dope tests will be mandatory for all candidates. A separate slip will accompany the nomination paper, and candidates must undergo testing at designated medical centers. Any positive result will result in the cancellation of the candidacy.
On law and order, Prof Monir Uddin highlighted that the campus's limited entry points will make it easier to control outsiders, ensuring a secure election day. Final decisions regarding ballot papers and other preparations will follow the finalisation of candidates.
Chittagong University was established in 1966, with its first Cucsu election held in 1970. While elections are supposed to be annual, only six elections have been held so far, the last one taking place on 8 February 1990.
