Campus thrives with activity as CUCSU candidates launch election campaign

First day of campaigning sees hopeful candidates rallying for votes

With the final candidate lists published, Chittagong University Central Students’ Council (CUCSU) and hall council hopefuls have started their formal election campaigns.

On Thursday, candidates from different panels, along with independent contenders, campaigned across campus, visiting temporary shelters, faculty areas, and shuttle trains.

Panels campaigned together while independents launched individual initiatives, creating a vibrant atmosphere as the first day of electioneering unfolded across the campus.

The Islami Chhatra Shibir is contesting the CUCSU and hall council polls under the banner of the “Sampritir Shikkharthi Jote”.

Their candidates toured the Shaheed Minar area, railway station, and shuttle trains, engaging students directly.

Panel general secretary (GS) candidate Saeed Bin Habib said, “We are reaching out to students together. On the first day of campaigning, we visited the Shaheed Minar, makeshift campaign stalls near the railway station, and several shuttle trains. In the evening, we will campaign in different halls.”

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal is contesting under its own name. Their candidates campaigned from the morning at makeshift campaign stalls near the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts. By midday, they had moved to the university railway station and shuttle trains, where they spoke with students.

Vice-president (VP) candidate Sazzad Hossain said, “We started campaigning in a festival-like atmosphere.”

Meanwhile, candidates from the “Boichitrer Oikyo” panel, comprising leftist and indigenous student groups, carried out campaigning on shuttle trains.

VP candidate Dhrub Barua said, “We began our campaign through the shuttle train. Students have responded positively.”

The “Ahingsho Shikkharthi Oikyo”panel also conducted campaigns across different makeshift stalls and faculty areas.

Later that evening, the university confirmed that all candidates had cleared mandatory drug tests.

In a media statement signed by Information and Photography Branch Administrator Md Shahidul Haque, it was announced that none of the students tested had traces of addictive drugs in their bodies.

A total of 936 candidates underwent drug testing, with all results confirmed negative by Dr Mohammed Abu Tayub, the university’s acting chief medical officer and drug test committee member.