SUST students announce indefinite shutdown demanding SUCSU polls

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have announced an indefinite shutdown of all academic and administrative activities, demanding that the university’s central student union (SUCSU) election be held.

The shutdown will begin on Sunday (January 25) and continue until the election is conducted, student leaders said.

The announcement was made on Saturday (January 24) by Delwar Hasan Shishir, vice-presidential candidate of the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed “Durbar SUSTian Oikya” panel.

Shishir said the student union election must be held before the national election. “This decision was taken after consultations with class representatives from all departments. Our protest will continue until the Shaksu election is held,” he said.

Ahead of the shutdown, students brought out a protest procession on campus from 5:00pm on Saturday. The march began at the Gol Chattar area, passed through Shah Paran Hall and Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall, and later moved through the Chetona-71 area and the female residential halls before concluding in front of the administrative building.

During the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans opposing the postponement of the election and demanding immediate polls.

The rally was attended by Durbar SUSTian Oikya vice-presidential candidate Delwar Hasan Shishir, general secretary candidate Mujahidul Islam, independent GS candidate Palash Bakhtiar, and several other students.

The SUCSU election, the first in 28 years, was scheduled to be held on January 20. However, following writ petitions filed by two candidates and a student, the High Court on January 19 ordered a four-week suspension of the election.