Shibir-backed panel places 7-point demand ahead of Rucsu polls

The Rajshahi University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir has placed a seven-point demand ahead of the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu), hall union, and senate student representative elections, scheduled for 25 September.

This afternoon, the Shibir-backed panel "Sommilito Shikkharthi Jote" presented the demands in front of the Rucsu treasurer's office, following a memorandum submitted earlier to the chief election commissioner of Rucsu.

Key demands include error-free vote counting using OMR machines, administrative support for polling agents, separate ID cards for journalists, entry restrictions to polling centres for non-approved media personnel, manual vote counting in case of technical complaints, CCTV surveillance at all polling centres, and restricted public access to campus on election day.

RU Shibir President and VP candidate Mostakur Zahid said, "We all have the right to pitch our demands, but we must do it ourselves, unlike RU Chhatra Dal, who sent a teacher from Jatiyatabadi Shikkhok Forum to speak on their behalf."

CEC for RU Prof F Nazrul Islam responded to the demands, saying, "Their demands largely align with ours, and we will try to conduct the election accordingly."

Earlier the same day, RU Chhatra Dal submitted a separate six-point demand, calling for manual vote counting.