Home
+
Published : 15 Oct 2025, 02:31 AM
After a gap of 35 years, the long-awaited election of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union is set to be held -- an interval punctuated by seven parliamentary polls.
Following the political transformation that came in the wake of the student-led July Uprising, a new reality has dawned at the university. The long wait to elect student leadership is set to end on Wednesday, with thousands of students preparing to cast their votes on the hill-surrounded campus outside Chattogram city.
The commission conducting the election has completed all preparations. The university administration says it has taken comprehensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and participatory election.
For many students, this will be the first vote of their lives -- and the first CUCSU poll to use OMR (optical mark recognition) ballot papers. Visually impaired students will also be able to vote at separate booths.
Like national elections, transparent ballot boxes will be used. The administration has also arranged digital displays to show the voting process in real time.
In three and a half decades, much has changed.
For the first time, CUCSU and hall election campaigns took place without wall graffiti, banners, or posters. Instead, candidates relied on digital media -- social platforms, short films, songs, and dance performances -- to reach voters in creative ways.
This is also the first CUCSU election without the participation of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ousted Awami League’s student wing.
Though 22km away from Chattogram city in Hathazari, the university’s famed “shuttle train” remains an unchanged tradition -- and will play a crucial role in ferrying students to polling stations.
The administration has arranged special trains and increased the number of buses for polling day.
University officials say all preparations are complete. “Now, it’s time to vote,” said one administrator, expressing hope for a fair, competitive, and festive election.
As with any election, the campus has been abuzz with pledges and manifestos.
A total of 13 panels, combining full and partial alliances of student and cultural organisations, are contesting the polls. After more than three decades, students will elect successors to the legendary CUCSU leaders Nazim Uddin and Azim Uddin Ahmed.
But beyond politics, students’ core demands remain practical: solving the accommodation crisis, freeing residential halls from political control, improving transportation, ensuring campus safety, increasing funding for education, expanding research opportunities, and ensuring equality for all.
Many of the first-time voters of a new era say they are not looking for “typical student politicians” -- but for genuine representatives who will stand beside them and work for real change.
Students hope this long-awaited election will finally give rise to a CUCSU that restores freedom to dormitories and campus spaces, free from organisational dominance.
With more than 27,000 registered voters, they will head to the polls at dawn, carrying dreams of a freer campus and a more accountable leadership.
Campaigning officially ended at midnight on Monday after an 18-day run. There were no major clashes or disruptions, though the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of the BNP, and the Islami Chhatra Shibir, student faction of the Jamaat-e-Islami, accused each other of minor code violations.
Law-enforcing agencies say they see no major security threat.
“Unless there’s external interference, there’s no reason to fear,” a senior RAB officer said.
AKM Ariful Haque Siddique, member secretary of the CUCSU Election Commission, told bdnews24.com on Monday: “The overall situation is good. The final logistical touches are being completed. Ballot papers, boxes, and all key arrangements are ready.”
A RAB-7 team led by Lt Col Hafizur Rahman met with Chief Election Commissioner Prof Monir Uddin and University Proctor Hossain Shaid Shohrowardhy on Tuesday to review preparations.
“Police and APBn officers will be deployed in large numbers,” Lt Col Hafizur said. “RAB will have at least eight patrol teams on constant duty, backed by a reserve force. Plainclothes intelligence teams will also be active across the campus.”
He added, “There’s no threat from students. Unless external actors provoke unrest, we expect a peaceful election.”
ANTICIPATION OF VOTING FESTIVITIES
Azimul Sakib Sajib, a first-year student of Political Science, said: “Within three months of joining university, I’m getting to vote in the CUCSU polls. It’s my first-ever vote, so I’m very excited and determined to cast it consciously.”
Taimul Hasib from the Department of Philosophy added, “I couldn’t vote in last year’s national election, but now, after the change in the country’s situation, I’m getting the chance to vote here. It feels special -- my first vote carries meaning.”
He said, “We expect the newly-elected representatives to voice students’ real concerns to the administration. Even if they can’t change everything right away, they can set a tone for change.”
Sneha, a second-year student of Fine Arts, said the election had sparked hope after decades of silence.
“We’re voting for representatives who will speak up for our rights in a celebratory atmosphere,” she said, adding that campaigns had been “remarkably peaceful”.
WHO’S COMPETING AGAINST WHOM
A total of 13 panels, both partial and full, are contesting this year’s election. The Chhatra Dal has fielded a panel under its own banner, while Islami Chhatra Shibir is contesting under the name Sampriti Shikkharthi Jote.
The Bangladesh Students’ Union and the Socialist Students’ Front have formed the Droho Parshad. Meanwhile, a coalition of leftist and cultural groups is contesting under the Boichittrher Oikya panel.
As many as 24 candidates are contesting for vice-president (VP) and 22 for general secretary (GS). Only one woman is running for a top position -- Chowdhury Tasneem Jahan Srabon, contesting for GS under the Binirman Shikkharthi Oikya panel, led by Abir Bin Jabed for VP.
The last CUCSU election in 1981 saw Jasim Uddin Sarkar and Abdul Gaffar of Chhatra Shibir win VP and GS positions. 44 years on, the group is once again contesting for leadership through Sampriti Shikkharthi Jote nominees Ibrahim Hossain Roni and Sayeed Bin Habib.
The Chhatra Dal panel is led by Sajjad Hossain Hridoy (VP) and Md Shafayat Hossain (GS).
The Boichittrher Oikya panel is fronted by Dhrubo Barua and Sudarshan Chakma, while Droho Parishad is led by Rizu Luxmi Aboroadh and Ifaz Uddin Imu.
Independent candidates include Mahfuzur Rahman (VP) and Rashid Dinar (GS).
The Sarbojonin Shikkharthi Sangsad of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and Islami Chhatra Majlish has Tamjid Uddin (VP) and Sakib Mahmud Rume (GS).
The Sacheton Shikkharthi Sangsad of Islami Chhatra Andolon fields Abdur Rahman Robin and Md Abdur Rahman.
Other competing panels include Sarbabhoumo Shikkharthi Oikya and Ohingsha Shikkharthi Oikya, while Insaniyat Revolution Student Front is contesting under Revolution for State of Humanity.
Among all, the strongest campaigns have come from Shibir and Chhatra Dal, both of which have maintained a strong online presence. The Boichittrher Oikya and Droho Parishad panels, representing leftist and cultural fronts, have also drawn significant attention on campus.
Chhatra Dal’s GS candidate Shafayat told bdnews24.com, “We reached out directly to students and received a positive response. We expect the administration to ensure a level playing field.”
Shibir’s VP candidate Ibrahim added, “Campaigning went peacefully. We hope for a good election day where everyone gets an equal chance and neutrality is maintained.”
Ordinary students say they will vote based on which candidates have best represented their concerns and offered realistic commitments. Many believe the main contest will be between the Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir panels, though leftist alliances have also made their mark.
HOW VOTING AND COUNTING WILL WORK
Each CUCSU and hall polling centre will be monitored by CCTV cameras.
Voting will be held from 9am to 4pm across five buildings -- the IT Building, New Arts Building, and faculties of Science, Social Science, and Business (BBA).
There will be about 700 booths in 60 rooms, with 400–500 students voting in each.
Chief Election Commissioner Prof Monir said CUCSU ballot papers will have four pages, while hall ballots will have one. Voters will fill the circle beside their preferred candidate’s name and number.
“Vote counting will involve dual image scanning,” he explained. “One by the official counting team, another by IT cell programmers. The results will be announced only after both match perfectly.”
CUCSU ELECTION FACTS
Registered Voters: 27,516
Male: 16,187
Female: 11,329
CUCSU Candidates: 415 candidates competing for 26 positions (including VP and GS)
Male: 348
Female: 47
Residential Halls & Hostel Elections: 14 halls + 1 hostel
Candidates: 493
Positions: 206
MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS
Strict security measures are in place from Tuesday to Thursday.
All teachers, officials, and students must carry their ID cards -- or admission slips for first-year students.
Proctor Prof Shohrowardhy said seven of the university’s 33 entry points will remain closed.
Police, APBn, and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed at 24 key spots outside the main halls and cottages to prevent outsiders from entering.
Five security lanes have been marked for verified students near Kata Pahar, Shaheed Minar Mor, Pritilata Hall, Life Science Building, and the Godown area.
Each of the five polling buildings will have a 60-member security team led by an assistant proctor.
