Shibir, Chhatra Dal complain of outsiders entering campus during CUCSU election

Neither side accused any specific student organisation or panel in this regard

After an hour and a half of voting in the Chittagong University Central Students' Union (CUCSU) elections, the Islami Chhatra Shibir and the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal have complained about “outsiders” entering the campus.

Neither side, however, accused any specific student organisation or panel in this regard.

Islami Chhatra Shibir vice president (VP) candidate Ibrahim Hossain Rony told reporters, "All candidates and voters have ID cards. Apart from this, the Election Commission has given the opportunity for any candidate to keep an observer there if they want. The observers also have cards."

“We have noticed that some people, who are not students, are moving about (inside the campus) without a card. We know them very well. We do not want anyone without a card to enter the campus and create unrest. We hope the Election Commission will take quick action.”

He said, "All the security forces are trying to prevent outsiders from entering. I arrived at 10 am. I have just cast my vote. The overall situation is not clear to me yet. But I want to say that there should be no outsiders entering in any way."

“We must ensure that the voters and candidates, teachers and employees are able to participate in the entire voting process without any hindrance.”

Ibrahim Hossain Rony said, "From the beginning, I felt that the election began with a sense of worry. If the administration maintains impartiality, fair voting, and a positive overall situation, we will definitely accept the results. Whoever is the winner, we’ll work together with them."

"If the commission is impartial, we will definitely accept the results. We all know the teachers’ ideology or their political affiliation. We want them to rise above party affiliation and fulfil their responsibilities."

Rony said, "Their neutrality today will prove how the Chittagong University elections went and whether they were fair."

Chhatra Dal's assistant general secretary candidate Ayubur Rahman Toufiq said, "Last night, we also talked about outsiders in the press conference. We said that whoever does not have a valid pass, no matter how powerful, should come to the university."

"This is an election for university students. If any outsiders come, the university administration will have to bear the responsibility.”