Voting underway in JUCSU election after 33 years

After a 33-year hiatus, the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections began today (Thursday, September 11), marking a historic return of student democracy on campus.

Voting started at 9:00 am and will continue until 5:00 pm across 21 residential halls, where 11,897 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The halls have been converted into polling centers, with 224 booths set up to accommodate voters.

This year’s election features eight competing panels, including those backed by the Democratic Students’ Council, Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Dal, three leftist alliances, and two independent panels. A total of 178 candidates are contesting for various positions.

To ensure smooth conduct, 67 faculty members have been appointed as polling officers, along with 67 administrative officials as assistant polling officers.

Vote counting will take place at the university’s Senate Hall immediately after polling ends, and results are expected to be announced later tonight.

Tensions surfaced last night when candidates from Chhatra Shibir and independent panels alleged a secret meeting between two BNP activists — Maruf Mallick and Nazmul Hasan Abhi — at the JUCSU Election Commission office. However, Commission Member Secretary Prof. Dr. Rashidul Alam dismissed the claims as “baseless,” reaffirming that the election was being conducted in response to students’ long-standing demands and under fair conditions.