JUCSU Shibir candidate dubs election commissioner’s resignation ‘a betrayal’

Mafruhi Sattar has stepped down from his role alleging irregularities

Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed assistant general secretary (AGS) candidate Ferdous Al Hasan has termed a JUCSU election commissioner’s resignation as “running away with his tail between his legs”, calling it “a form of betrayal”.

He made the remark at a press conference outside the university’s Senate Building around 9:45pm on Friday.

During the briefing, Shibir leaders and activists chanted slogans such as: “One, two, three, four, JUCSU is our right” and “You know it, I know it, we all accept JUCSU.”

Earlier, at 9pm, election commissioner Mafruhi Sattar announced his resignation while the vote count was still under way.

A professor of the pharmacy department, he also heads the BNP-leaning Jatiyatabadi Teachers’ Forum at the university.

He cited irregularities and mismanagement as the reasons for his decision.

In response, candidates of the Shibir-backed Combined Students’ Alliance panel came forward with their statement.

The JUCSU election was held on Thursday. The commission had initially planned to count votes using OMR machines, but switched to manual counting amid objections from the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

As a result, the commission had still not completed the tally by 10:30pm on Friday, a day after the vote.

Alleging rigging, four panels have already withdrawn from the election alongside several independent candidates.

With Mafruhi stepping down, a total of four teachers have now quit election duties.