JnUCSU election to be held today after 21 years

Voting for the Jagannath University Central Students Union (JnUCSU) and Hall Sangsad elections is being held today, Tuesday.

Although the election was originally scheduled for 30 December last year, it was postponed on the morning of that day following the death of former prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

The election commission later announced 6 January as the new date for the polls.

This is the first JnUCSU election in the 21 year history of Jagannath University. Previously, when the institution was known as Jagannath College, a college Chhatra Sangsad election was held in 1987.

The first ever JnUCSU election has generated considerable enthusiasm among the university’s students, who are hopeful about the prospects of a new beginning after a prolonged period of uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the university administration has stated that all necessary preparations for voting have been completed. Voting will take place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at a total of 39 centres with 178 booths across the university campus.

Regarding security arrangements for the election, chief election commissioner Mostafa Hasan said that meetings had been held with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Discussions were also conducted with the local police administration and the university’s proctor’s office. He expressed optimism that the election would be conducted peacefully and fairly.

Regarding security arrangements for the election, chief election commissioner Mostafa Hasan said that meetings had been held with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Discussions were also conducted with the local police administration and the university’s proctor’s office. He expressed optimism that the election would be conducted peacefully and fairly.

According to information provided by the election commission, a total of 157 candidates are contesting 21 posts in the central students union while 33 candidates contesting for 13 posts in the University’s only Chhatri Hall Sangsad. In total, 190 candidates have been finalised for 34 posts.

Data from the JnUCSU election commission indicate that there are 16,665 registered voters in the election. Candidates are contesting under four panels:

Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian, formed by Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and general students; Odommo Jobian Oikko, supported by Islami Chhatra Shibir; Maulana Bhasani Brigade, supported by the left-wing alliance and Oikkoboddho Jobian, supported by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti.

In addition, several candidates are contesting the election independently. A total of 12 candidates are competing for the post of vice-president (VP), nine for general secretary (GS) and eight for assistant general secretary (AGS).

Syeda mubashira, a candidate for the post of library and seminar secretary from the Maulana Bhasani Brigade panel, told Prothom Alo that both candidates and voters had high expectations regarding the JnUCSU election.

However, she said that violations of the code of conduct by certain panels during campaigning, along with administrative negligence concerning JnUCSU, had undermined students positive sentiments.

Khadijatul Kubra, the general secretary (GS) candidate from the Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian panel formed by Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and general students, told Prothom Alo, “No other political organisation’s panel has a woman in a top position, whereas I have been given this opportunity. I want to work for the advancement of women’s rights. However, there are many obstacles for women here. Women need to be motivated and encouraged to participate, yet they are often demeaned in various ways. We must move away from this culture.”

There has been widespread excitement among students across the university campus surrounding the JnUCSU election. Students have also been expressing their views on social media.

On-site visits on Monday to various faculties, Shaheed Minar, the TSC, and the university’s second gate revealed strong interest among students regarding the vote.

Students expect that the JnUCSU election will open a new chapter of democratic practice at the university.

Jannatul Ferdous, a student from the 2022–23 academic session of the department of sociology, told Prothom Alo, “As this is the first election, the initial enthusiasm among candidates was somewhat dampened when the election was postponed. However, that atmosphere has now returned. I hope that a fair election will be held on Tuesday and that the administration will present us with a disciplined and orderly election.”

To ensure the smooth conduct of the JnUCSU election, the university administration has issued several directives. These were outlined in a notice signed by the acting registrar, professor Md Sheikh Giasuddin, on Monday.

According to the directives, students must enter the campus through gate no. 1 in order to cast their votes and must exit through gates no. 2 and no. 3 after voting.

Teachers, officers and staff may enter the campus through gate no. 2 only before the designated time. Officers and staff must show their identity cards to enter the campus and are instructed not to leave the campus unless there is an urgent necessity.

The Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian panel, comprising Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and general students, has raised allegations of irregularities in the OMR machines used for vote counting and expressed concerns regarding the issue.

At a press conference held on Monday afternoon in front of the Bhasha Shahid Rafique Bhaban at the university, representatives of the panel highlighted various alleged inconsistencies in the OMR machines.  

Election commissioner Anisur Rahman told Prothom Alo that preparations for the election were very strong.

Addressing the issue of alleged OMR machine irregularities he said, “We have brought in two additional machines today, Tuesday. We have tested them on a trial basis and found that the level of inconsistency in the current machines is zero per cent. Vote counting will be conducted using OMR machines on Tuesday.”