Candidates make final push ahead of Jucsu polls

The 12-day campaign for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) and hall elections, which began on August 29, ended yesterday.

The long-awaited election will take place tomorrow from 9:00am to 5:00pm, marking the first Jucsu election in 33 years since 1992.

A total of 620 candidates are contesting 340 posts across the central and hall unions, including 448 men and 172 women.

For the 25 central union posts, 179 candidates are in the race -- 132 men and 45 women.

An analysis shows nearly 60 percent of hall posts are either uncontested or vacant. Out of 315 positions across 11 male and 10 female dormitories, 131 are uncontested and 68 remain vacant.

There are 11,919 registered voters, including 6,102 men and 5,817 women.

With women making up almost half of the electorate, most panels pledged women's empowerment and a gender-friendly campus during their campaigns.

On the last day of campaigning, candidates actively spent a busy day reaching out to voters at TSC, the central library, Murad Chattar, Bot Tola, and other busy spots.

In the evening, they visited residential halls to meet students.

At Bot Tola, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed VP candidate Sheikh Sadi Hasan said, "We are getting huge support. We are confident of a historic victory on September 11."

Independent VP candidate Abdur Rashid Jitu, campaigning at Murad Chattar, said, "I'm hopeful. I will win by a large margin."

JCD-backed general secretary candidate Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi, campaigning at the campus Shaheed Minar, said she would work to eliminate gender discrimination. "I am the only female candidate for this post and expect strong support from female halls," she added.

Touhid Siam, GS candidate from the Shikkharthi Oikya Forum panel backed by Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, campaigned in the male dormitory areas in the afternoon to mark the end of electioneering.

"I want to keep Jucsu active, if elected," he said.

There were also allegations of violations of the election code of conduct on the last day of campaigning.

Left-leaning partial panel Sangshaptak Parishad, backed by Chhatra Union and Chhatra Front, alleged cash distribution during the campaign.

Female joint secretary candidate Sohagi Samia said, "Cash is being widely distributed, but the commission has remained silent despite violations of the code of conduct."

On the election day, the university administration will deploy 1,200 police, including plainclothes officers.

Proctor and Election Commission member secretary Prof Rashidul Alam said the army has also been requested as a striking force.

Meanwhile, the university authorities conducted mandatory dope tests for all Jucsu candidates at the medical centre yesterday."

Several candidates criticised the timing, saying it disrupted campaigning.

GS candidate Touhid Siam said, "The results will take time, and there is no scope for appeal. Why conduct this on the last day?"

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Sohel Ahmed, however, said the arrangement followed a request from the Election Commission and candidates participated willingly.

ANANNYA WITHDRAWS, AMARTYA ROY LOSES CANDIDATURE

Independent GS candidate Syeda Anannya Fariya withdrew her candidature yesterday.

At a press briefing held at the university Shaheed Minar, she said, "I stand for equality and cultural unity. For greater unity among those who believe in the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 and the 2024 mass uprising, I am stepping down."

Meanwhile, Amartya Roy, a VP candidate from the left-leaning Sampritir Oikya panel, will not contest the polls after the Supreme Court chamber judge stayed a High Court order that had directed the JU authorities to allow him to participate.

Justice Md Rezaul Haque, chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC, passed the order following a petition filed by JU's vice chancellor challenging the High Court decision.

JU's lawyer Shishir Manir told The Daily Star that the SC chamber judge stayed the HC order because Amartya is an irregular student and therefore cannot contest the Jucsu election under the relevant law.

Earlier in the day, the HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Bishwajit Debnath had directed JU authorities to allow Amartya to contest the polls as a vice-president candidate. The directive came after Amartya filed a writ petition challenging the cancellation of his candidature by the JU authorities.

He filed the petition yesterday.

The Jucsu election commission had originally cancelled Amartya's candidature on September 6, eight days after the publication of the final candidate list.