Even though many students have returned home for Durga Puja holidays, campaigns for the upcoming Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) election remain in full swing.
From halls and shanties to bus stations and residential areas, candidates are actively engaging with voters. Although written manifestos have not yet been released, candidates continue to make verbal promises.
Sayeed Bin Habib, general secretary candidate from the Shompreetir Chhatra Jote, expressed his excitement, “Alhamdulillah, we are receiving more support than expected. For 16 years, we have been subjected to various allegations and propaganda.
“However, after 5 August, students realised who the real student activists are, and it did not take much time for them to understand the truth about the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.”
Meanwhile, Ayubur Rahman Toufiq, assistant general secretary candidate from the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), highlighted a major issue, “I am listening directly to the students’ problems. The biggest issue is the shuttle train.
“Students are facing severe difficulties due to outdated engines, broken fans, malfunctioning bathrooms, and a shortage of coaches. At night, these trains become a refuge for the homeless. Whether I win or not, I will continue working to make the shuttle train safer and modern.”
Nuzhat Zahan, a candidate for the post of women’s welfare secretary from JCD, pointed out the significant challenge of accommodation for female students.
“Although there are five women’s halls, there is no nearby dispensary, and essential medicines are often unavailable. Married female students also face problems during maternity leave, and there are no proper facilities for childcare.
She added, “I am calling for the establishment of a daycare center on campus. Additionally, I strongly advocate for the installation of CCTV cameras across the entire campus.”
Campaigning spreads to mobile screens
The Cucsu and hall council elections are not limited to paper posters or speeches at bus stations; they have spread to students’ mobile screens. Facebook has become an active platform for campaigning, with many posting videos or sharing posters to solicit votes.
The Facebook group “Chittagong University Family,” with 62,000 members, has become an online battleground for candidates. In this group, candidates are actively seeking votes through videos and posts.
Female candidates are making significant strides in the election race, employing various strategies and promises to win over voters. Whether it is improving hall facilities, upgrading shuttle trains, or addressing campus safety, female candidates are making their presence felt.
However, despite receiving substantial online and offline support, some candidates have reported being victims of cyberbullying, slut-shaming, tagging, and fake framing.
A total of 908 candidates are competing in the Cucsu, hall, and hostel council elections. Of these, 415 are running for 26 Cucsu positions, while 493 candidates are vying for seats in the hall councils. The Election Commission has also released the draft ballot numbers.
According to the final voter list, 27,518 students are eligible to vote in the Cucsu polls, with nearly 11,500 of them being female voters. Chittagong University has 6,328 residential seats – 3,687 for male students and 2,641 for female students.
This means that only 23% of the students live on campus, while the remaining 77% are non-residential.
