The University of Chittagong (CU) is filled with extraordinary vibrancy as voting in the long-awaited Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and hall union elections continue Wednesday.
From early morning, shuttle trains, buses, and the lively chatter of students turned the hill-surrounded campus into a scene of festivity.
However, the celebratory atmosphere was overshadowed by allegations of irregularities — including ink fading away, unsigned ballots, and procedural anomalies — raised by several candidates.
Campus abuzz with festivity
The first special shuttle train left Chattogram Railway Station for the university at 7:30 am on Wednesday. Soon after, train after train and buses arrived, bringing students back to their beloved campus.
As the day progressed, long queues formed at polling centres. Some students took selfies with friends, while others cast their votes to choose their representatives.
According to the university administration, 11 pairs of shuttle trains and 15 pairs of buses were kept operational to ensure smooth transportation for voters. Voting began at 9am and will continue uninterrupted until 4pm. A total of 27,517 voters cast their ballots across 15 centres and 689 booths.
Election Commission sources said 908 candidates are contesting in total — 415 for the central body and 493 for hall unions.
Sabuj Ahmed, a postgraduate student of the History Department, said, “This election is not just about voting for us – it is a festival, a historic day.”
Students embracing democracy
The festive mood was visible across the campus. Polling centres at the Faculty of Engineering, Dr Yunus Building, Shaheed Hridoy Tarua Building of the Faculty of Arts, and the Faculty of Business Administration all saw lively participation from candidates and supporters.
Students remarked that after more than three decades, this election marks a fresh beginning for democratic practices on campus.
Allegations overshadow celebrations
As the day went on, reports of irregularities began to surface. Several candidates alleged that the indelible ink used on voters’ fingers was being easily erased.
Vice president candidate from the Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal (JCD) panel, Sazzad Hossain Hridoy, said, “The ink on voters’ fingers is fading away with a light rub, which creates scope for casting votes multiple times.”
Droh Parishad’s VP candidate Riju Lokkhi Abarodh said the Election Commission had pledged to use indelible ink, but that was not followed in practice. “I saw the ink on my finger disappear shortly after I voted,” she said.
The Bangladesh JCD-backed panel submitted a written complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that unsigned ballot papers were distributed at some polling centres and that erasable ink was used instead of indelible ink.
They demanded an investigation and necessary action regarding these irregularities.
Earlier in the day, 12 ballots were reportedly submitted without the presiding officer’s signature in Room 214 of the Faculty of Engineering.
Assistant Presiding Officer Dr Hasan Rashed Rauf, who was on duty at the centre, said, “Shortly after voting began, 12 ballot papers were mistakenly distributed without the assistant presiding officer’s signature. The Election Commission will decide what to do regarding those ballots.”
