Abdur Rashid Jitu, an independent candidate, has been elected vice president (VP), while Mazharul Islam, supported by Shibir under the Shomonnito Shikkharthi Jote panel, has been elected general secretary (GS) of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU).
The results were announced by Chief Election Commissioner Professor Md Moniruzzaman on Saturday evening at the university’s Senate building.
In addition, Ferdous Al Hasan from the Shibir-backed panel was elected assistant general secretary (Male), while Ayesha Siddiqa Meghla secured the position of assistant general secretary (Female).
Voting for this year’s JUCSU election was held on Thursday, after a 33-year hiatus, from 9am to 5pm. A total of 11,747 voters participated, and 178 candidates contested the election.
Among them, nine candidates competed for VP, nine for GS, six for Female Joint General Secretary, and ten for Male Joint General Secretary.
Voting took place at 224 booths across 21 university halls, including 10 female halls and 11 male halls. Each polling station was staffed by one returning officer, 67 polling officers, and 67 assistant polling officers. Voters used 40 ballots in total for both the central and hall unions.
Approximately 1,200 police officers were deployed to ensure security during the voting process.
However, four panels of progressive students, including Shompreetir Oikkya, Shongshoptok Parishad, Swatantra Ongikar Parishad, and a faction of the Socialist Student Front, boycotted the election, citing widespread irregularities and demanding a re-election.
The panels also received support from several independent candidates, who announced their decision to boycott the elections. This announcement was made during a press conference at the university’s transportation area on Thursday evening.
In the press conference, Sharan Ehsan, a candidate for GS from the Shompreetir Oikkya panel, read out a written statement, saying, “There were disturbances during the night when the ballot boxes were being moved, polling agents were obstructed, male candidates were allowed to enter female candidate polling areas, voter lists lacked photographs, and indelible ink was not applied on voters’ fingers.
These incidents led to the loss of fairness in the election. We believe this was a biased and flawed election.”
He added, “Given the circumstances, we are unable to accept the election results. Therefore, we demand that a new, fair election be held promptly.”
Earlier in that day, the Chhatra Dal-backed panel also announced their decision to boycott the election, following which they staged a protest march in the evening.
