CUCSU election campaign ends as ballot day draws near

Last-minute push across campus, online and offline, marks final day of electioneering

The curtain has fallen on campaigning for the Chattogram University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and hall union elections, as candidates made their final push across the campus ahead of the polls.

The 18-day campaign officially ended at midnight on Monday.

From makeshift campaign stalls and hall corridors to the campus railway station and department stairwells, candidates flooded every corner of the university on the final day -- online and offline, solo or in groups -- in a last-ditch effort to reach voters.

The campaign began on Sept 25, following the confirmation of nominations, and was wrapped up at exactly 12am on Oct 14.

The “Sompritir Shikkarthi Jote” panel, backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, fanned out across departments, shuttle trains, and faculty alleys on Monday.

Its vice-president candidate Ibrahim Hossain Rony said, “We’ve campaigned all across campus -- some alone, some as a team -- right up to the finish.”

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel carried out intense campaigning around the Arts Building, residential halls and faculties, as well as on shuttle trains and at the station.

“We spent the whole day reaching out to students and asking for their votes. The response has been encouraging,” general secretary candidate Shafayat Hossain said, expressing hope for a fair election.

“We expect a peaceful vote on Wednesday and believe the students’ verdict will favour us.”

Dhrubo Barua, VP candidate from the Unity in Diversity panel representing leftist and cultural organisations, said their team campaigned across the campus all day, concluding with an election rally at the station area that night.

The last CUCSU election was held in 1990. After nearly three decades, voting is scheduled to take place on Oct 15.

This year, a total of 27,516 students are eligible to vote, including 11,329 female students.

In the CUCSU election, 415 candidates are contesting from 13 panels.

In addition, 493 candidates are running in elections for 14 residential halls and one hostel.