Campaigning begins for Cucsu election

Formal campaigning for the Chittagong University Central Students' Union (Cucsu) and hall union elections officially started yesterday.

Candidates hit the ground in the afternoon after the final candidates' list and draft ballot numbers were published.

The Election Commission for the polls said ballot numbers in the final list were assigned in order according to the Bengali alphabet.

To reach voters, candidates are employing various strategies, including visiting campus huts, shuttle trains, and popular student hangouts to interact directly with students and present their manifestos.

The Cucsu Election Commission earlier announced that voting will take place on October 15. All exams scheduled for October 15 and 16 will be suspended, although classes will continue as usual.

The commission also said that all necessary preparations have been made to maintain discipline during the campaign.

With the Durga Puja holidays starting tomorrow, some candidates expect campaign activity to slow down. However, others emphasised maximising online campaigning during this period to ensure manifestos reach all students.

According to the university website, a total of 908 candidates will contest the polls. Of them, 415 are vying for 26 Cucsu positions, while 493 are contesting 14 hall union posts. The draft voter list includes 27,521 students.