The Election Commission of Chittagong University (CU) has officially released the list of candidates contesting in the upcoming Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) elections.
A total of 429 candidates will vie for 26 positions in the central union, as announced around 9pm on Friday.
Among them 25 candidates will vie for Vice President post; 22 for General Secretary; 22 Joint General Secretary; 12 Sports Secretary, 15 Assistant Sports Secretary; 18 Literature, Culture and Publications Secretary; 16 Assistant Literature, Culture and Publications Secretary; 18 Office Secretary; 14 Assistant Office Secretary; 12 Female Student Welfare Secretary (reserved for women); 11 Assistant Female Student Welfare Secretary (reserved for women), 11 Science and Technology Secretary; 13 Research and Innovation Secretary; 20 Social Welfare and Environment Secretary; 17 Health Secretary; 17 Liberation War and Democratic Movements Secretary; 16 Career Development and International Affairs Secretary, 20 Communication and Accommodation Secretary; 14 Assistant Communication and Accommodation Secretary; 11 Legal and Human Rights Secretary; 21 Library and Cafeteria Secretary; 84 Executive Members.
A total of 10 student panels, both political and non-political, have been announced ahead of the polls.
The panels are Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front- backed ‘Droho Parishad’; BNP’s student wing Chhatra Dal-backed panel; Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed ‘Sompritir Shikkharthi Jote’; Islami Chhatra Andolon Bangladesh-backed ‘Socheton Shikkharthi Sangsad (Full panel announced); ‘Satantra Shikkharthi Sammilon -a panel formed by students who were injured or played leading roles in the July Movement; A full panel named ‘Boichitrer Oikya’-supported by various political, social, ethnic organisations, and independent students; ‘Ahinsho Shikkharthi Oikya- a non-political panel formed by students who believe in Sufi ideology; ‘Sarbobhoumo Shikkharthi Oikya’ – a non-political panel formed by leaders of extracurricular and co-curricular groups; ‘Swadhin Shikkharthi Jote’ – a combined panel of Student Alliance for Democracy and Chhatra Federation; and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad -backed Cucsu for Rapid Change.
As of last Wednesday, a total of 1,162 nomination forms had been collected over four consecutive days for 232 positions in the Cucsu, hall union, and hostel union elections.
Of the total, 528 nominations were collected for 26 Cucsu posts, while 634 nominations were submitted for 206 posts in 14 halls and one hostel.
By the final submission deadline on Thursday, a total of 930 nomination papers were officially submitted, 429 for Cucsu and 501 for the hall and hostel unions. This means that 232 students, who collected nomination forms, did not submit those.
After the submission of nomination papers, those will be scrutinised, and a preliminary list of candidates will be published on September 22.
The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is September 23 at 3:30pm, and the final list of candidates will be announced on September 25. Voting will take place on October 12, from 9am to 4pm.
Notably, this year’s Cucsu elections will see voting for 26 posts, while the hall unions will elect 16 and the hostel union 10 positions. Any candidate who tests positive in the mandatory drug test (dope test) will be disqualified from the election. The total number of registered voters for the Cucsu election stands at 27,634. Voting will be held simultaneously on October 12, from 9am to 4pm.
