The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) elections concluded amidst widespread allegations of vote rigging and irregularities, with both Chhatra Dal and Shibir panels exchanging accusations.
Voting took place from 9am to 5pm on Thursday. The counting of votes is currently underway.
Hours before the voting ended, Chhatra Dal announced a boycott of the election, citing mismanagement. In a press conference, Chhatra Dal’s general secretary (GS) candidate Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi made the announcement.
Islamic Chhatra Shibir-backed “Shomonnito Shikkharthi Jote” panel’s vice president (VP) candidate Arifulah Adib claimed that Chhatra Dal’s decision to boycott was due to their anticipated crushing defeat.
Three BNP-affiliated teachers also announced their resignation from election duties at the last minute.
Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi stated, “Our VP candidate was denied entry into Tajuddin Hall. The OMR machine used for vote-counting was purchased from a Jamaat leader’s company, and the ink used for the ballots was fading.
“As a result, this is a rigged election.” She also added that the voter list at Tajuddin Hall lacked photos, leading to a two-hour suspension of voting at the hall.
Boishakhi further claimed that despite the cancellation of the OMR machines purchased from a Jamaat-owned company, voting continued with the ballots provided by that firm.
“In Jahanara Imam Hall, an independent candidate, was physically attacked, and a mob was created. Our polling agents were not allowed to stay at any of the centers,” she said.
Boishakhi also alleged that members of Chhatra Shibir repeatedly cast votes in women’s halls by changing ID cards. “The entire election process is engineered and fraudulent, and we are forced to boycott in protest,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, vice president candidate from the Shibir-backed panel Arifulah Adib raised complaints about 101 extra ballots being sent to Salam-Barkat Hall. He made this allegation at the Mír Mosharraf Hossain Hall center around 10:30am.
“The administration failed to explain the presence of additional ballots. A decision had been made that no extra ballots would be sent to any hall, yet they were sent,” Adib claimed.
He also accused Chhatra Dal leaders of involvement in ballot paper distribution the night before the election and observed the presence of former students on campus.
“We reported these issues to the Election Commission, but no action has been taken,” he added.
Adib also demanded that the results of the dope tests be made public immediately. “If the election process is fair, our panel will win in all positions. We will accept the result, whether we win or lose, as long as the voting is fair,” he affirmed.
A total of 11,747 voters is registered for the JUCSU election, with voting taking place across 224 booths in 21 halls of the university. Each booth is staffed by a returning officer, 67 polling officers, and 67 assistant polling officers.
To ensure security, 1,200 police officers have been deployed.
