11 candidates leave CUCSU polls, nine withdraw hall council nominations

15 candidates have been reinstated after initial disqualification, and four have been rejected for good

A total of 11 candidates have dropped out of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election along with nine from the hall council polls.

AKM Ariful Haque Siddique, member secretary of the CUCSU election commission, confirmed the development on Wednesday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

Appeals of those rejected during the preliminary scrutiny of nomination papers were also heard on the same day. Of the 19 disqualified candidates, 15 had their candidacies reinstated, while four were rejected for good, said Ariful.

The CUCSU election is being held after a 35-year hiatus.

Initially, 529 candidates collected nomination forms, of whom 429 submitted them. Following scrutiny, 410 candidacies were declared valid, and a draft list was published on the CUCSU website on Monday.

According to the commission, on Wednesday, one candidate each withdrew from the race for the posts of vice president, assistant general secretary, law and human rights secretary, research and innovation secretary, assistant sports secretary, literature, culture and publication secretary, and assistant literature, culture and publication secretary.

Two candidates each also withdrew from the races for communications and accommodation secretary, and health secretary.

Meanwhile, among those pulling out of the hall and hostel council elections are candidates for assistant general secretary at Shilpi Abdur Rashid Chowdhury Hostel, executive member at Atish Dipangkar Hall, health secretary at Bijoy-24 Hall, social welfare, environment and human rights secretary at Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall, vice president and literature, culture and publication secretary at Shaheed Farhad Hossain Hall, and assistant general secretary and science, research and information technology secretary at Shahjalal Hall.

As per the schedule, the final list of candidates will be published on Sept 25, and voting will be held on Oct 15.

Without any ruling party student wing taking part in the race, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal is contesting alone, while Islami Chhatra Shibir is participating under the banner of “Shompritir Shikkharthi Jote”.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Socialist Students’ Front have announced a panel named “Droho Parshad”, Islami Chhatra Andolan is contesting under “Socheton Shikkharthi Sangsad”, while various leftist student organisations and Pahari Chhatra Parishad have announced their “Boichitrer Oikya” panel.