BGCS refuses to boycott polls, says ‘bad vote’ better than ‘No JUCSU’

The student group holds a press conference after midnight to present their stance

The Bangladesh Ganatantric Chhatra Sangha (BGCS) has said it will not boycott the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election, arguing that even a “flawed” vote is preferable to having no election at all.

At an emergency press conference on campus at 1:30am on Friday, front-line student leaders of the July Uprising-affiliated group outlined their position on the election.

They alleged that the administration and Election Commission had attempted to obstruct the election at every step. Despite these efforts, nearly 8,000 students cast their votes.

The BGCS said they will respect the voters and accept the results, regardless of the outcome.

The leaders said, “After all that has happened, even a bad election is better than 33 years of ‘No JUCSU’. At least the spark of voting has been lit.”

They blamed the university teachers’ involvement in campus politics for the long delay in holding the central student council election.

After five panels, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, announced a boycott citing allegations of irregularities, the BGCS-backed student leaders held the briefing while the vote counting was still under way at the Senate Bhaban.

Speakers at the briefing included Arifuzzaman Uzzal, vice-presidential candidate of the Shikkharthi Oikya Forum, and Abu Tauhid Md Siam, candidate for general secretary.