Home
+
Published : 05 Jan 2026, 10:28 PM
The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and hall council elections, postponed by a week following the death of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, are finally set to take place.
Two decades after its inception as a university, students of the Old Dhaka institution will exercise their franchise for the first time on Tuesday to elect representatives for the JnUCSU and the sole female residence, Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall.
The polls will establish a 23-member central executive body for a one-year term. Under the constitution, the vice-chancellor and treasurer will serve as the ex-officio president and treasurer of the executive council.
A total of 16,500 students are expected to cast their ballots at 178 booths across 39 centres in five university buildings from 9am to 3pm.
Each centre will be overseen by a returning officer drawn from the faculty, assisted by two to three assistant returning officers.
Four major panels, including those backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir, are vying for the race.
University authorities have completed nearly all preparations for this landmark event, which marks the first such election since the college was upgraded to a university in 2005.
Election Commissioner Kaniz Fatema Kakolee told bdnews24.com on Monday that preparations are in place as before, with members of the armed forces and intelligence agencies deployed to ensure security.
Asked about any potential hurdles from the national election commission, she noted that the event is proceeding because they received positive signals from all relevant quarters.
BALLOT PAPER LAYOUT
Voters will cast ballots for 21 positions on a three-page ballot for the central council.
The left side of the ballot will show the English letter and numerical number for each post (e.g., vice president A-11), the middle section will show the candidate’s full name, and the right-hand box is where the voter marks their choice with a cross (X).
The first page will cover vice president (VP), general secretary (GS), assistant general secretary (AGS), Liberation War and democratic movement affairs secretary, education and research secretary, science and technology secretary, and health and environment secretary.
The second page will include law and human rights secretary, international affairs secretary, literature and culture secretary, sports secretary, transport secretary, social services and student welfare secretary, and library and seminar secretary.
The last page will allow voters to choose seven candidates for seven executive posts.
Chief election commissioner Prof Mostafa Hasan said at a press conference that results will be counted and broadcast live using six OMR machines.
COMPETING PANELS
Four primary alliances are vying for leadership, alongside several independent candidates:
Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian: Supported by Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.
Odommo Jobian Oikko: Supported by Chhatra Shibir, UP Bangladesh, and Inqilab Moncho.
Maulana Bhashani Brigade: Comprising Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and several cultural and social organisations.
Oikkoboddho Jobian: Supported by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti.
RACE FOR TOP SLOTS
The VP, GS, and AGS posts feature multiple candidates from the panels and independents:
• VP (12 candidates)
• Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian: AKM Rakib (A-11)
• Odommo Jobian Oikko: Riazul Islam (A-06)
• Oikkoboddho Jobian: Kishwar Anjum Shammo (A-09)
• Maulana Bhashani Brigade: Gourab Bhowmick
• Remaining eight candidates are independents.
• GS (9 candidates)
• Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian: Khadijatul Kubra (B-07)
• Odommo Jobian Oikko: Abdul Alim Arif (B-05)
• Oikkoboddho Jobian: Faisal Murad (B-04)
• Maulana Bhashani Brigade: Ivan Tahsibh (B-09)
• Five independents, notably Shah Ahmad Reza (B-03).
• AGS (8 candidates)
• Oikkoboddho Nirbhik Jobian: BM Atikur Rahman Tanzil (C-06)
• Odommo Jobian Oikko: Masud Rana (C-02)
• Oikkoboddho Jobian: Md Shahin Mia (C-03)
• Maulana Bhashani Brigade: Md Shamsul Alam Maruf (C-01)
• Remaining four are independents.
VOTING PROCEDURE
Each department will act as a separate polling centre, with digital counting at every centre. One female teacher will serve as assistant returning officer at each centre to ensure safe voting for female students.
Voters can scan a QR code next to their names for instant voter ID, allowing those without ID cards to vote.
Students will enter polling booths after presenting ID cards. Hall council voting will be held at the left side of the ground floor of Shahid Sajid Academic Buiilding.
Voting for the central and hall councils will be on separate ballots. Residential hall students will vote for 13 hall positions and 21 central council positions, totaling 34 votes, while non-residential students will vote only for central council posts. Votes will be marked with a cross (X) in the right-hand box.
OMR Voting:
Central council ballot is 3 pages, hall ballot 1 page, including post name, ballot number, candidate name, and voting box. Results will be announced in the central auditorium.
STUDENT REACTIONS
Chayan Krishna Dev, a postgraduate mathematics student, said: “We are voting for JnUCSU by a narrow margin. Soon, our student life would have ended.”
He said he would choose candidates based on individual merit rather than panel affiliation, arguing that panel-based selection could create a dictatorship in student politics.
History student Ankita Saha said, “The initial enthusiasm has faded after the postponement. Many are away on batch tours or exam preparation. The campus does not feel as festive as before.”
She plans to vote based on post-specific suitability.
Marketing student Majharul Islam Tanbir said, “It is the first JnUCSU election in two decades, and we are privileged to vote. Senior students familiar with the campus will ensure deserving candidates are chosen.
“We know the contributions of most candidates, so our decisions are well-informed.”
HALL ELECTION
The election for the Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall involves 1,242 voters.
Candidates for VP include Jannatul Ummi Tarin (Jobian Oikko), Khadijatul Kubra (Rokeya Parshad), and Farzana Akhtar Rimi (Aparajitar Ogrojatra).
Hall Provost Anjuman Ara confirmed that 13 representatives will be elected through direct votes.
CANDIDATATE’S STATEMENTS
VP hopeful Rakib expressed confidence, citing "unprecedented support" from the student body.
“Without this election, I would not have realised their expectations. Victory would be a victory for all students. I am confident of winning,” he said.
Similarly, Riazul, another VP candidate, urged everyone to turn up and exercise their right to vote, stressing that the future of the student union rests in their hands.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Before attaining full university status, Jagannath College held 14 students’ union elections. The first was in 1954–55, the last in 1987–88, electing VP Alamgir Sikder Loton and GS Jahangir Sikder Joton.
Since 2005, no JnUCSU elections were held due to the absence of provisions in the Jagannath University Act, 2005. Continuous student demands led to the drafting of the JnUCSU rules on Oct 28.
After delays, the election schedule was announced on Dec 5. Originally set for Dec 22, polling was postponed to Dec 30 due to campus closure following an earthquake.
On the morning of the election, BNP chief Khaleda passed away at Evercare Hospital.
An emergency syndicate meeting suspended the vote, triggering protests by Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir panels, joined by Chhatra Shakti and Chhatra Front panels.
Students initially surrounded the vice-chancellor’s office demanding resignation and later blocked the office of a pro-BNP teacher leader.
Following the protests, the syndicate rescheduled the election to Jan 6.
