Queues grow towards end of JnUCSU polls, but no extension announced

Despite the congestion, the Election Commission says there was no plan to extend voting hours

Queues of students have grown at Jagannath University’s polling stations as voting for the Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) election nears its 3pm deadline, raising concerns over whether all voters will be able to cast their ballots on time.

At around 2:30pm on Tuesday, at least 30 students were seen standing in line on the second floor of Bhasa Shahid Rafiq Bhaban.

Similar scenes were observed in front of Kala Bhaban, where voters waited anxiously as time ran out.

Despite the congestion, the Election Commission said there was no plan to extend voting hours.

“We have not decided to extend the time again. Voting will continue until 3pm. After that, no one will be allowed to vote,” Election Commission member Prof Zulfikar Mahmud told bdnews24.com.

Voting began at 9am at 178 booths across 39 centres set up in five academic buildings of the university.

Elections were also held on the same day at the university’s only residential hall, Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall.

Students from different parts of the city came to vote amid cold weather.

While turnout was high in the morning, the number of voters dropped significantly after 11am.

However, the campus became lively again after 12:30pm, with a noticeable surge of students heading to polling centres.

By afternoon, large crowds were seen across different areas of the campus, with heavy voter presence at almost every polling station.

Student Ankita Saha told bdnews24.com that the rescheduling of the election influenced her decision to vote later in the day.

“The election was supposed to be held on Dec 30, but voting was postponed that morning due to Khaleda Zia’s death,” she said.

“Many people came to the centres that morning. I didn’t come then because voting was postponed. I saw that everyone was voting until noon today without any obstacles, so I came in the afternoon.”

However, she found herself stuck in a long queue.

“I’ve been standing in line for about half an hour, but I haven’t been able to move forward,” she said.

A total of 16,645 students are eligible to vote in the election, which will form the JnUCSU central parliament for one year.

Four panels and 157 independent candidates are contesting for 21 seats.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof Mustafa Hasan said vote counting would begin after polling ends and will be broadcast live using six OMR machines.

When asked about voter turnout during the first five hours of voting, he said, “I can’t say how many percent have voted so far. We will provide the information together later.”