The Chattogram University Central Students’ Union (CPSU) election was held on Wednesday after 35 long years.
Since Tuesday morning, students exercised their voting rights in queues amidst a festive environment. Being able to cast the first vote of their lives, students were filled with joy, excitement, and a sense of pride in participating in a historic event.
Since morning, voting centres were seen overflowing with crowds of students. Many took photos with friends, while others stood in line and posted on social media about the “feeling of the first vote”. Especially on the faces of the students voting for the first time, there were smiles and expectations – for new leadership and new changes at CU.
Many students reported that they had never been able to vote before due to the prolonged absence of fair elections in the country. Many students alleged that during the long fascist rule of Sheikh Hasina’s government, people of the country could not vote for 17 consecutive years.
Therefore, this Cucsu election is not just a university election for them, but a symbol of regaining the right to vote.
A third-year student from the History Department said, “I have been a voter for three years, but I never experienced any election fervor or the experience of voting. The Cucsu election gave me that wonderful opportunity. The experience of casting 40 votes at once was amazing. We hope this continuity remains next year as well.”
Sabiha Anjum Apu, a student from the Department of Islamic History and Culture, said, “This is the first time I voted, and that too at my beloved campus. It feels really good to be able to vote for my preferred and deserving candidates. The entire campus is now in a festive mood awaiting the results – it’s as if we are witnessing a new CU.”
Safwan, a third-year student from the International Relations Department, said happily, “Firstly, it’s the first vote of my life, and on top of that, 40 votes at once! I enjoyed it thoroughly. I never got to vote before, so it felt like through Cucsu, all previous vote-deficits have been compensated for.”
On voting day, the CU campus was seen in a festive mood – some were taking selfies, others were standing in line waiting to vote. Many said this experience would remain not just as a vote, but as a memory for a generation.
