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Published : 19 Jan 2026, 03:08 PM
The High Court has suspended the Shahjalal University Central Students Union (SUCSU) elections for four weeks.
The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Asif Hassan made the decision on Monday after an initial hearing on a writ petition fined by Mominur Rashid Shuvo, a candidate for the post of vice president, and two others.
The SUCSU polls were to be held on Tuesday after a 28-year gap. The High Court has suspended the election just as preparations for the vote were nearing completion.
Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Rashna Imam, and Moniruzzaman Asad were among the lawyers representing the petitioners at the hearing, while Mohammad Hossain represented the university and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state.
The schedule for the SUCSU polls was announced on Nov 16. Initially, election day was set for Dec 17, but it was later changed to Jan 20.
On Jan 12, the Election Commission issued an order barring all organisations, including professional ones, from holding elections in order to keep the upcoming general election and referendum “free from influence.”
However, a section of students remained adamant in their demand for the SUCSU election on Jan 20. On Jan 15, the EC approved the continuation of the SUCSU polls on the condition that the code of conduct be followed.
The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal – the BNP’s student wing -- has been holding a sit-in programme in front of the EC’s offices since Sunday, accusing it of biased behaviour in connection with several incidents, including this decision. Eight pro-BNP teachers resigned from the SUCSU Election Commission on Monday afternoon in protest. Now, the High Court has ordered the elections suspended.
A total of 97 candidates are vying for 23 posts in this year's central student union polls at Shahjalal University. In addition, 84 people are contesting for posts in six hall councils. Each hall council has nine posts available. The last SUCSU election was held on Aug 25, 1997.
