After a long 33 years, voting in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election begins at 9:00am on Thursday and will continue uninterrupted until 5:00pm.
The election, taking place just a day after the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls, has drawn heightened attention, especially following the sweeping victory of a Shibir-backed panel at DUCSU.
A festive atmosphere has gripped the JU campus as students, in groups and individually, throng polling centres to cast their votes. Long queues of students waiting to exercise their franchise were seen outside centres. Polling centres are expected to remain crowded throughout the day as students choose their preferred candidates.
Vote counting will begin at the university’s Senate building immediately after the polls close, with results scheduled to be announced at 7:00pm.
To avert any untoward incidents, some 1,200 police personnel have been deployed across the campus.
Earlier, the election campaign concluded on 9 September amid much enthusiasm and festivity.
The much-anticipated JUCSU and hall union elections are being held on Thursday (11 September) with the full cooperation of the university administration.
Voting will take place simultaneously at 21 polling centres, covering 11 male and 10 female dormitories, with 224 booths set up for the purpose. A total of 67 teachers have been appointed as presiding officers and 67 officials as assistant presiding officers. Vote counting will be held at the Senate building.
For maintaining law and order, 1,500 police members, seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and five platoons of Ansar will remain deployed within the campus perimeter. Additional Ansar and law enforcement personnel will stay on and around the campus to tackle any unforeseen situation.
Meanwhile, the university authorities have decided to keep all campus gates, except Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall gate and Prantik gate, closed from 6:00pm Wednesday (10 September) until 12:00 noon Friday (12 September).
All floating shops, Tarzan Point shops, outlets near the old transport area, Murad Chattar shops near the new Arts Building, fabric market north of Prantik gate, and shops adjacent to the main gate will remain closed from 6:00am to 6:00pm Thursday (11 September). However, canteens and shops inside dormitories will remain open with instructions to keep adequate stock of food.
JUCSU poll continues III Photo: Anik Rahman/ TIMES
From 6:00pm Wednesday to 12:00 noon Friday, motorcycle movement on campus is prohibited, except for emergency services (security, water, electricity, gas, internet). Vehicles with circular JU stickers for teachers, officers, staff, and election commission stickers will be allowed entry.
Today all official vehicles will enter through Prantik gate.
The JU administration has sought sincere cooperation from all concerned to ensure security and discipline on campus during the election.
