Both the Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir are facing allegations of electoral code violations as voting continues in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election.
Abu Tauhid Mohammad Siam, the general secretary (GS) candidate from the Shikkharthi Oikkya Forum panel, claimed there is mismanagement at polling centers. “Polling agents are facing issues with access. Some agents are being allowed to enter, while others are not,” he said.
Faria Zaman Niki, the assistant general secretary (AGS) candidate from the “Shompreetir Oikkya” panel, voiced similar concerns, stating, “Polling agents are not being allowed entry. There is poor management around the voting process.”
She also accused the opposition of unfair practices, saying, “Former students are roaming around outside the halls. Only posters of the Shibir-backed panel are visible on hall boards.”
Most candidates raised questions about the Election Commission’s handling of the election process, with counterclaims of favoritism toward opposition panels. The Chhatra Dal and Shibir-backed panels accused the administration of providing unfair advantages to their rivals.
Shibir-backed vice president (VP) candidate, Arifulah Adib, said, “The administration failed to justify the presence of 101 extra ballots at Salam-Barkat Hall. The decision was made that no extra ballot papers would be sent to any hall, yet additional ballots have appeared, creating confusion.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Sadi Hassan, the VP candidate from the Chhatra Dal-backed panel, criticised the administration and Election Commission. “We are concerned about the role of the administration and the Election Commission.
“Additional ballots were printed to favor one particular group, indicating a biased and lenient stance.”
Voting for the JUCSU and Hall Union elections began at 9am across 224 booths in 21 university halls and will continue until 5pm. The total number of voters for this election is 11,747.
A total of 178 candidates is competing for different positions, with 9 running for vice president (VP), 9 for general secretary (GS), 6 for joint general secretary (Women), and 10 for joint general secretary (Men).
Voters will cast their votes on 40 separate ballots, combining both the central and hall union elections, and the votes will be counted using special OMR machines.
Of the total JUCSU candidates, 25 per cent are female, with 75 per cent male candidates. No female candidate is running for the VP position, while 2 women are among the 15 candidates for GS. Four other positions do not feature any female candidates.
Across all halls, 24.4 per cent of candidates are female. In five women’s halls, no candidates are running for 15 positions. This year’s election sees a total of eight panels participating, supported by the Left, Shibir, Chhatra Dal, and independent groups.
