Chittagong University approves new Cucsu constitution, sets 30yr age limit

Chittagong University (CU) has approved a new constitution for Chittagong University Central Students' Union (Cucsu) elections, paving the way for polls after a 35-year hiatus.

The new constitution, which was finalised at the university's 559th Syndicate meeting today (1 August), introduces a maximum age limit of 30 for both candidates and voters.

The development follows renewed and widespread calls for Cucsu elections, especially after three other autonomous universities (Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Jahangirnagar) recently announced their own election schedules.

Acting Registrar Professor Mohammed Saiful Islam confirmed that the new constitution for the executive committee will have 28 posts, including five executive members.

The previous constitution also had 28 posts but with ten executive members.

A key reform is the inclusion of an oath to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War, all democratic movements, including the 2024 July uprising, and the country's religious values. 

The new framework is designed to better represent and address student concerns with the university administration.

To modernise the union, 12 new posts have been introduced, including those for Research and Innovation, Science and Information Technology, Health, and Communication and Housing.

Additionally, the previous social service-related posts have been transformed into a new "Social Service, Environment and Human Rights Affairs" portfolio.

The constitution also reserves specific secretarial posts for male and female students.

Under the new rules, only regular students who are residents or are associated with a university hall can be voters and candidates.

This includes students enrolled in undergraduate, Master's, MPhil., and PhD programmes, with an age cap of 30 years.

Students from evening, executive, diploma, or certificate courses, as well as those from affiliated colleges, are excluded from the election process.

Professor Dr Monir Uddin, president of the CUCSU election management committee, stated that he has not yet received a copy of the constitution. He anticipates receiving it on Sunday, after which he "will call a meeting to announce the election schedule as soon as possible".

CUCSU was established in 1966, but elections have been held only six times since its inception.

The last election took place in February 1990. The union's activities were suspended later that year, on December 22, after student leader Farukuzzaman was murdered.

The absence of a functional student union for over three decades has left the university's Senate without student representation and crippled hall-based student councils.

The students' demand for a roadmap and timeline gained momentum after the July Uprising, culminating in a human chain on Wednesday (30 July) where students demanded an immediate election schedule.