Student union elections are returning to the University of Chattogram campus after 35 years. With manifesto announcements, posters, microphone campaigns, and hall-based outreach, the university now has a festive election atmosphere. Some strategies are service-oriented, some rely on marches and meetings, while others are quietly building strength.
But students have one burning question: Which organization has played a truly student-friendly role over the past year, and into whose hands will they entrust their right to representation?
The Shibir strategy
Islami Chhatra Shibir has carried out several activities targeting the election to attract new voters, from organising a “Fresher’s Reception and Career Guideline” programme at the start of the year to providing financial assistance to students.
Last Ramadan saw Shibir organising an iftar at the university’s central mosque for 2,000 students every single day for 20 consecutive days. On Eid-ul-Adha, they arranged a feast for students staying on campus, in addition to other charity-based events aimed at improving the lives of CU students.
Additionally, Chhatra Shibir also began a movement that aims to bring back the Institute of Fine Arts from Chattogram city to the campus, pressuring university administration through public appearances, demanding 100% accommodation and a resolution to session jams.
JCD: A year of marches, meetings, and mayhem
On 11 August, 2023, the Chattogram University Chhatra Dal committee was formed for a year, with 2008-2009 session student Alauddin Mohsin as President and 2009-2010 session student Abdullah Al Noman as General Secretary. The committee had a total of 5 leaders, including Joint Secretaries and Organizing Secretaries.
During this time, the committee leaders, entangled in various other groupings, failed to organise the party. Last Ramadan, Chhatra Dal organised an iftar mahfil. They also provided various forms of assistance to students, including transporting for prospective students during the admission test and WiFi in several halls.
Bagchas: A house divided
The convener committee of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council (Bagchas) – comprising student leaders who had played a key role in the July Uprising – was approved on 24 August last year. However, no significant organisational activity has been seen from them since the committee was announced.
Although Bagsachas did not issue an official panel, leaders from the group have run as candidates on various panels.
Leftists focus on student rights, Shibir
Over the past year, leftist student organisations at the University of Chattogram were active in securing students’ rights. However, most of their political statements were made against Shibir and the administration.
They were seen holding press conferences, wall writings, and leaflet distribution on issues like accommodation facilities, safety and increasing coaches on shuttle trains, and safety for female students. Additionally, several left-leaning organisations, including the Democratic Student Council, Biplobi Chhatra Maitree, and Biplobi Chhatra Yuba Andolan, have announced a panel named “Unity in Diversity”.
Under this, President of the Democratic Student Council Dhruva Barua will contest for the Vice-President (VP) post, General Secretary of PPC Sudarshan Chakma for the General Secretary (GS) post, and Zakirul Islam Jasim for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS) post.
The University of Chattogram authorities have taken several measures aiming for vote counting, transparency, and security in the Cucsuelection. A five-layer security plan is being implemented to ensure safety during the election, from beginning to end.
35 years in the making
Using a scanner, votes will be counted in the returning officer’s office. While the results are being prepared from this stage, the university’s IT department will also complete the vote counting process. Then, the results from both sectors will be matched before announcing the final outcome.
It has taken 35 long years since the last Chattogram University Central Student Union (Cuscu) election was held on 8 February 1990.
The official cut-off point for campaigns is 13 October. Although voting time was initially set for 12 October 12, was later postponed to 15 October.
