BGCS won’t field panel in CUCSU election, leaves door open for independents

The organisation says individual members are free to run, but it will stay out as a collective

Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (BGCS) has said it will not contest in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election as an organisation, though members are free to run as independent candidates.

On Tuesday, Al Masnun of the university chapter of the BGCS, the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP) announced the decision not to run collectively at a press conference.

That was the final day for collecting nomination papers.

BGCS Chittagong University unit co-spokesperson Nawshin Tabassum told bdnews24.com, “We are not contesting the CUCSU elections with a panel. This is a collective decision. Anyone who wishes can participate independently.”

On the same day student factions collected nomination forms for central CUCSU and hall union posts. Student Union and Socialist Students’ Front together submitted joint nominations under the panel name “Droho Parshad”.

Unlike at Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, where the organisation participates under different names, the BGCS has opted out of the Chittagong University polls.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Masnun said: “We are not participating in the CUCSU election. This is our political decision. However, if any of our members wish to contest for the central or hall union as independents, they are free to do so.”

The CUCSU election will take place on Oct 12. The deadline for collecting nomination forms has already passed. Submission of forms began on Tuesday and will continue until Wednesday.