The Chhatra Shakti–backed Oikyaboddho Jobian Panel on Tuesday alleged the open use of black money, muscle power and administrative bias to influence the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union election (Jnucsu).
The panel raised the allegations at a press conference held in front of the Bhasha Shaheed Rafiq Bhaban on Tuesday morning. Vice-presidential candidate Kishore Anjan Samya and general secretary candidate Faisal Murad addressed the media.
Samya said students had waited years for the long-anticipated Jnucsu election through sustained movements and struggle. He said the overall situation surrounding the polls now caused deep concern among students.
Samya stressed the need to present the true picture of the election to students and the wider public.
Murad alleged that planned untoward incidents took place outside the campus on the morning of polling day. He said those incidents aimed to create fear among students.
He claimed a particular group was trying to influence the election outcome through the display of black money and muscle power.
Murad also questioned the credibility of the voting process. He said Jnucsu election commission directives required indelible ink to be applied to voters’ fingers after casting ballots.
In reality, he said, the ink could be easily removed, which seriously undermined transparency and trust in the vote.
Raising allegations of irregularities involving polling agents, Murad said authorities published the polling agent list late on the night before voting.
He said they contacted the election commission repeatedly for corrections. The commission, he alleged, kept them waiting for nearly two hours and allowed changes for only four polling agents, which he described as unusual and discriminatory.
The panel further alleged that despite restrictions imposed by the university election commission, a large number of outsiders entered the campus in support of two panels backed by Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir.
They also alleged misuse of observer cards and said the commission failed to take effective action.
Murad said several of their polling agents did not receive cards despite their names appearing on the approved list. He alleged that officials removed some agents from designated rooms about two hours after voting began.
He mentioned issuing polling agent cards fell under the responsibility of the election commission.
Accusing repeated violations of the electoral code of conduct, Murad said rules prohibited carrying papers, slips or tokens inside polling centres. He alleged that polling agents of one panel carried papers showing candidates’ names and ballot numbers on the reverse side of voter lists, which he described as a clear breach of the code.
He also alleged that some members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps deployed on duty gathered in front of booths and campaigned in favour of a particular panel.
At the press conference, the panel claimed pressure from two political camps – one aligned with BNP and the other with Jamaat – had effectively taken control of the election commission and the administrative structure.
They said this situation gave undue advantage to powerful panels while independent and comparatively weaker panels faced discrimination.
Concluding the briefing, Murad said they did not oppose the Jnucsu election. He said they demanded a free, fair and acceptable vote.
Expressing optimism, he said students would deliver their verdict against black money, corruption and muscle power. “We will leave the campus with the mandate given by that verdict,” he said.
