Ethnic minority students have announced a full panel for the Nawab Faizunnesa Hall Council in the Chattogram University Students’ Union election. They have named their panel “Hriddotar Bondhon.” The panel includes: Permita Chakma, a 2019-20 academic year student from the Dramatics department, as candidate for Vice President (VP); Singyoiu Marma, a 2020-21 academic year student from the Pali department, for General Secretary (GS); and Methuiching Khyang, a 2020-21 academic year student from the Management department, for Joint General Secretary.
In addition to students from six ethnic groups – Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Khyang, and Rakhine – the panel has also included Bengali and Barua students.
Other members of the panel include: Iti Chakma as Sports Secretary, Pratyasha Chakma as Literature and Culture Secretary, Aparajita Barua as Office Secretary, Monalisa Chakma as Social Service, Environment, and Human Rights Secretary, Suranjana Tripura as Science, Research, and Information Technology Secretary, Angme Marma as Health Secretary, Khing Khing as Reading Room, Dining, and Hall Library Secretary, Shreya Talukdar as Communication and Accommodation Secretary, and three executive members: Shipra Tanchangya, Ananya Chakma, and Promita Tripura.
Vice Presidential candidate Permita Chakma told Times of Bangladesh, “We have no political affiliations. Moreover, no hill-based organisation has provided us with any funds or advice. The panel members will bear their own expenses.”
Regarding her candidacy in the student union election, she added, “We are contesting to protest against harassment and bullying.”
Although the panel includes ethnic minorities, they aim to work for all students. She said, “Almost all halls at CU have water line issues. If elected, we will take initiative to solve this problem.”
Why a separate panel?
On why a separate panel was formed for ethnic minority students, Permita Chakma said, “Initially, we wanted to include Bengali students from Faizunnesa Hall in our panel, but no one agreed. Later, after we formed our own panel, many showed interest. But now we have already prepared a full panel.”
Support among hall students
Nawab Faizunnesa Hall has 60% Bengali and 40% indigenous students. Only one panel has been formed, and a few individuals are running independently for various positions. Regarding their support, “Hriddotar Bondhon” VP candidate Permita Chakma said, “As a senior in the hall, I am receiving support from everyone so far. Both Bengali and indigenous students are supporting our panel.”
Sumaiya Akter, a 2022-23 academic year student from the Political Science department, is running independently for the GS position. She told Times of Bangladesh, “Many members of the indigenous students’ panel are very popular in the hall. They have a good chance of performing well independently.”
