Sucsu polls: Sust students reject election date, stage all-night blockade of VC and pro-VC
The VC and pro-VC were released after nearly six hours after giving assurances to the students that their demands would be considered
Students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) staged an all-night protest and blockade of the vice-chancellor's (VC) office, immediately rejecting the administration's announced date for the Shahjalal University Central Students' Union (Sucsu) election.
VC Professor AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury announced late last night (14 November) that the Sucsu polls would be held on 17 December. The announcement, made during a press conference at his office around 9pm, was met with immediate backlash from the students who are demanding the election be held earlier, by 10 December.
The moment the election date was announced, students began a protest outside the Sust VC office, shouting slogans and marching. The demonstration continued through the night, effectively blockading the VC and pro-VC in their offices until dawn. The officials were only released around 6am after the VC assured the students that their demand for an earlier date would be considered.
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Speaking on the blockade, Sarwaruddin Chowdhury told the protestors, "I will speak with other concerned officials today regarding the students' demand. I will propose their suggestion to advance the election date."
Earlier in the evening, a scheduled press conference regarding Sucsu was abruptly postponed by the administration citing "unavoidable circumstances". Following the postponement, students gathered outside the Registrar Building, staging a protest and locking the gates.
Students accused the administration of trying to appease a single political faction and subvert the election process by scheduling the vote during the winter vacation.
Faisal Hossain, a Sociology student, alleged that the administration had broken a previous promise. "Yesterday, the VC and pro-VC promised the election would be held on the 9th or 10th. But today, after meeting with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, they announced a date during the winter break," he said, adding that they believe the administration is arranging a farce to benefit one party and foil the election.
Palash Bakhtiar, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Sust, rejected the date saying, "The students had proposed 9 or 10 December. But this administration has made a mockery of the process and given a different date. We do not accept this. Our movement will continue."
