Even before the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) election, the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel won support by promising sweeping reforms that it now struggles to deliver.
With its tenure nearing an end, the union is facing criticism over unfulfilled pledges, while its leadership blames the university administration for delays.
Ahead of the election, the Shibir-backed ‘Students’ Alliance for Harmony’ unveiled a 33-point reform plan, claiming it could be implemented within 12 months. The panel swept the polls, securing 24 of 26 posts before taking oath.
Ten months later, several major promises remain unrealised. The alliance’s flagship pledge — addressing the campus accommodation crisis — has seen little progress.
Vice-President Md Ibrahim Hossain had promised to increase hall capacity by 10 per cent through renovations, extension blocks and temporary facilities, alongside long-term multi-storey projects.
However, no new halls have been built. Of the 12 existing halls, only two have undergone renovation, creating accommodation for just 107 additional students through refurbished spaces and converted teachers’ quarters.
Students say the manifesto raised unrealistic expectations. Islamic Studies student Md Naim Biswas told TIMES of Bangladesh that the campaign made complex structural reforms appear achievable within a year, while many students lacked the means to verify the feasibility of such promises.
Cucsu General Secretary Saeed Bin Habib defended the union’s record, saying new halls could not be built within a year and that the union was lobbying the government for budget approval, hoping to at least lay a foundation stone before its term ends.
The housing crisis is only one of several stalled commitments. Major pledges for a Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), central auditorium, student employment opportunities and digitised departmental libraries remain untouched.
Women-focused initiatives, including menstrual hygiene facilities, separate washrooms, canteen privacy corners, daycare centres and dedicated amenities at the ladies’ hut, have also seen little progress.
The promise to upgrade the medical centre into a 30-bed hospital with an operation theatre and emergency helpline remains pending.
Saeed pointed to smaller achievements, saying the union had restored campus stability, reduced political disruption and ensured transparent hall seat allocation through the administration.
Students, however, remain dissatisfied. Physics student Sadia Siddiq said blaming budget shortages and administrative barriers was no different from the explanations students had heard for years.
Limited progress on minor pledges
An analysis of Cucsu’s 33-point manifesto shows that 12 relatively minor commitments have been implemented, accounting for 36 per cent of the pledges.
Another four commitments, or 12 per cent, have been partially fulfilled, while 17 major promises — 51 per cent of the total — remain untouched.
Cucsu highlighted measures such as removing the Tk20 fee for hall mark sheet collection, simplifying online banking services, organising free medical camps, expanding ambulance facilities, placing first-aid boxes in halls and securing discounts at private pathology centres.
The union also introduced Jobike services, added coaches to shuttle trains, launched free legal aid camps, created a cyberbullying cell and arranged skill development courses in areas such as graphic design, digital marketing and foreign languages.
However, critics argue these achievements fall short of the larger structural reforms promised during the election.
Digital automation remains incomplete, with online registration, result publication and administrative reforms still pending. Similarly, while additional shuttle coaches were introduced, promises of a tracker app, more train services and a second railway line remain unfulfilled.
