Excitement builds as first-time voters, candidates prepare for CUCSU election

The last CUCSU polls were held in 1990, making this a historic moment for many students who have never participated in a election

Chattogram University students are gearing up for the CUCSU election with unprecedented enthusiasm, as this will be their first time voting for many, marking a historic moment following decades of student apathy and political silence.

Some are even running for positions, marking a new era of participation.

The last CUCSU election took place on Feb 8, 1990, and since then, many students, despite being eligible voters, have never voted in any election, be it national or local.

Now, with a revived sense of political engagement, these students are eagerly looking forward to exercising their voting rights in the university elections.

Fayruz Ferdous, a postgraduate student from the banking and insurance department and a resident of Shamsun Nahar Hall, will cast her vote for the first time.

She has also decided to contest for the position of vice-president in the hall council elections, running as an independent candidate.

She said, “I’ve never voted before and never seen a polling station, but this time, I’m feeling different. Students are being deprived of many just demands. I want to contribute to addressing students’ concerns, so I’m taking part in the election.”

Alongside her, Farzana Yasmin Putul, another student from the same department, also plans to vote for the first time.

Putul said, “I’ve never participated in national or local elections before. The circumstances of voting never interested me either. This is the first time I’ll use my voting rights.”

Singyoyu Marma, a resident of Nawab Faizunnesa Hall and a 2020-21 session student of the Pali department, has also collected her nomination papers to run for general secretary.

She will contest from the Hridyotar Bondhon panel. Hailing from Rangamati’s Kaptai, she says: “This is my first vote ever, and I’m going to vote for the first and am running for a post as well. It’s exciting.”