CUCSU elections: Ballot boxes reach centres amid heightened security

More than a hundred members of the RAB, both in uniform and plainclothes, have been deployed across campus

After 18 days of campaigning, the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and the hall and hostel union elections are set to be held on Wednesday -- marking the first such polls in three and a half decades.

On Tuesday morning, the usually busy campus appeared unusually quiet.

Campaigning had ceased, and members of the Election Commission were seen making last-minute preparations for the long-awaited vote.

More than a hundred members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), both in uniform and plainclothes, have been deployed across the campus to ensure security during the election.

They visited the CUCSU Bhaban and were seen patrolling the area.

Police personnel were also stationed at key points around the university.

At the CUCSU Bhaban, final preparations were under way. Accreditation cards and vehicle passes were being distributed to journalists on the building’s ground floor.

In the Kalar Jhupri area, candidates and students were holding last-minute consultations related to the election.

Inside the CUCSU office, ballot boxes for both the CUCSU and hall parliament elections were neatly arranged on the second floor.

The boxes have already begun to be sent to polling centres.

Three booths for visually impaired voters have also been set up on one side of the same floor.

“The campaigning is over. We are going to vote in CUCSU for the first time. The excitement of this is different. Now we are just waiting for the vote,” said university student Raiyan Motasim.

Another student, Ritu Chakma, said she hoped for fair polls.

“I hope there will be a transparent election this time. Students will be able to vote and elect their preferred candidates through voting,” she said.

But not everyone shared that optimism.

Sohel Rana, a candidate for social service and environment secretary representing the “Droho Porshod” -- a panel supported by the Chhatra Union and the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front -- expressed frustration over the lack of Braille ballots for visually impaired students.

“We submitted a memorandum to the administration long ago, requesting that we vote in Braille,” he told bdnews24.com.

“The administration said they would arrange it next year. It is disappointing. We are in doubt whether we will be able to vote at all.”

“They have suggested that we bring our family members and vote, where two commissioners will be present. Which is not possible at all,” he added.

Since the establishment of Chittagong University in 1966, CUCSU elections have been held six times.

The upcoming vote on Oct 15 will be the seventh.

The last election took place on Feb 8, 1990.

Polling will be held continuously from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday in several campus buildings, including the IT building, the new arts building, and the science, social sciences, and commerce (BBA) faculty buildings.

Voting will take place in about 700 booths across 60 rooms in the five buildings, with an estimated 400-500 students casting ballots in each room.

According to the CUCSU website, a total of 27,516 students are eligible to vote.

The CUCSU election has candidates from 13 panels running for vice president, 22 for general secretary, and 21 for joint general secretary.

There are also 12 candidates for sports and games secretary, 14 for assistant sports and games secretary, 17 for literature, culture, and publications secretary, and 15 for assistant literature, culture, and publications secretary.

Seventeen candidates are vying for the post of office secretary, 14 for assistant office secretary, 13 for student welfare secretary, 10 for assistant student welfare secretary, 11 for science and information technology secretary, and 12 for research and innovation secretary.

Twenty candidates are contesting for social service and environment secretary, 15 for health secretary, 17 for Liberation War and democratic movement secretary, 16 for career development and international secretary, and 17 for communication and housing secretary.

Fourteen are running for assistant communication and housing secretary, nine for law and human rights secretary, and 20 for library and cafeteria secretary. Eighty-five candidates are competing for five executive member positions.

In the hall parliament elections, 350 candidates will contest for various positions in nine halls, while 123 will compete in five halls.

Twenty candidates are running for different posts at the Artist Rashid Chowdhury Hostel.