Just as past movements, female students from Chittagong University were active participants in the July uprising.
However, one year after the uprising, women are reluctant to take leadership positions in the upcoming Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) elections, set to take place after 35 years.
Ten panels have been declared for the Cucsu elections, but none of the top two positions – Vice President (VP) and Assistant General Secretary (AGS) – are being contested by women. Only one panel has nominated a female candidate for the general secretary (GS) position.
According to the Election Commission, of the 26 positions in the Cucsu elections, there are no female candidates for the VP and AGS posts. Only one female candidate has been nominated for the GS position.
It is reported that 429 candidates are running for the central union elections, with only 48 women, making up just 11.2% of the total candidates.
Chittagong University has five halls for female students, with 14 positions in each hall, totaling 70.
A total of 125 students have collected nomination papers for these posts. Among them, 21 positions have only one candidate, and they will be elected without a vote due to the lack of competition.
The total voter count for the Cucsu election is 27,521, though the exact number of female voters has not been specified in the voter list published on 14 September.
A question arises
But why is there reluctance from women despite their qualifications for leadership? There are allegations that both online and offline, women are frequently subjected to harassment. Many are retreating due to cyberbullying.
While women are included in various student panels, they are often seen as mere figureheads. These women remain hopeful that the situation will change one day.
Tasneem Jahan Shraban, GS candidate from the Swatantro Shikkharthi Jote, stated, “The campus is not safe for women to participate in elections or politics. Here, female students face regular bullying, shaming, and moral policing.
“These incidents happen both online and in person. As a result, many are unwilling to engage in politics.”
Associate Professor of Anthropology Moshreka Haque Aditi remarked, “There have been instances of harassment against women on campus in the past, with some administrators making derogatory comments about women.
“These actions are meant to instill fear in women. Therefore, encouragement and support for women to step up for top positions are essential.”
Students have stated that when they approach the administration regarding harassment, no protection is offered. They believe no one cares about the issues faced by women. “Now, with the Cucsu election underway, everyone is pretending to be pro-women,” they added.
According to the schedule, voting for the CUCSU elections will be held on 12 October.
