Jucsu election commission member resigns citing irregularities
"I decided to step down because vote counting continued without addressing complaints raised during the polls," he says at a press conference in front of the university’s New Arts Building tonight (12 September).
Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, a member of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election commission, has resigned, citing irregularities and the commission's failure to act on complaints during the polls.
Speaking at a press conference in front of the university's New Arts Building tonight (12 September), Sattar said, "I decided to step down because vote counting continued without addressing complaints raised during the polls."
"I repeatedly requested the commission to address the complaints and the problems that arose during the voting process, and to suspend the election until those issues were resolved," he added.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The professor further said, "The chief election commissioner called a meeting in the afternoon, which lasted a long time. When I stepped out for prayer, I returned to see that vote counting had already started.
"I repeatedly requested the commission to temporarily suspend counting to address the complaints and ensure a fair and transparent election, but my requests were ignored."
Sattar said, "I have observed numerous irregularities and serious flaws that have called the entire election process into question. The commission showed incapacity to act on my recommendations."
When asked if he resigned under pressure, the professor said, "I did not resign under pressure. In fact, I was pressured not to resign and to accept the situation. I have made the decision I believe is right, and I will not take responsibility for the commission's failures."
Professor Sattar is a faculty member of the university's Pharmacy Department and also serves as the president of the JU branch of the Nationalist Teachers' Forum.
Yesterday, amid allegations of massive irregularities in the Jucsu polls, three teachers boycotted the election, citing widespread irregularities and administrative misconduct.
The teachers Professor Nahrin Islam Khan of the Geography and Environment Department, Professor Nazrul Islam, and Professor Shamima Sultana are also the members of the Nationalist Teachers' Forum.
