SUST students lock administrative building demanding SUCSU polls

Agitating students and candidates on Monday (January 19) locked the administrative building of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), demanding that voting in the Central Students’ Union (SUCSU) election be held as scheduled on Tuesday.

The action left the vice-chancellor and other senior university officials confined inside the building.

The lock-in began around 1:30pm, effectively bringing administrative activities to a halt. Protesters included candidates from Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panels, BNP-backed Chhatra Dal-supported independent candidates, the Independent Candidates’ United Panel, and other independent contenders.

The protesters said the High Court hearing related to the Shaksu election must go in favour of holding the vote and insisted the polls be conducted according to the pre-announced schedule. They vowed to continue the movement until their demand is met.

Meanwhile, another group of students blocked the Sylhet–Sunamganj road in front of the main campus gate, causing severe traffic congestion and forcing vehicles to move slowly.

Earlier in the day, at a press conference at the university’s new social building, Nationalist Teachers’ Forum President Prof. Ashraf Uddin said the group would not perform election-related duties.

In a separate briefing at the same venue, University Teachers Link (UTL) member secretary Prof. Mohammad Saiful Islam said Jamaat-leaning teachers wanted the election held on Tuesday and were ready to discharge election duties.