Election set for Nov 27 as JnUCSU roadmap unveiled

The protesting students continue hunger strike after roadmap unveiled, saying other demands remain unmet

Jagannath University has announced the roadmap for its long-stalled central students' union election, setting Nov 27 as the date for the vote.

The action plan, released on Wednesday, includes Oct 8 as the date for forming the Election Commission.

Though the roadmap has been made public, the election policy is still awaiting final approval.

“We have accepted the students’ demands,” said Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rezaul Karim. “Once the policy is passed, there will be no obstacle to holding the students’ union election as per the declared schedule.”

Once approved by the university, the policy will proceed through the University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Law before acquiring legal standing.

Apart from the formation of the Election Commission and the voting date, other key formalities have yet to be scheduled.

A notice signed by Registrar Prof Md Sheikh Giash Uddin mentioned that the commission will set the remaining timeline.

According to the roadmap, the commission will determine the dates for drafting and approving the election policy and code of conduct, announcing the schedule, publishing and finalising the voter list, nomination submission and scrutiny, hearing and resolution of objections (if any), and finally, publication of the list of valid candidates and the start of campaigning.

The roadmap comes amid ongoing hunger strikes by leaders of the Chhatra Odhika Parishad and Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad, who had been pressing for three demands.

On Wednesday, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also expressed solidarity with the protest.

The three demands are:

– Disbursement of supplementary student scholarships

– Declaration of the JnUCSU election roadmap

– Subsidised, healthy food in the university cafeteria, improved central library facilities, and proper air conditioning.

While the roadmap has been announced, protesters said they would continue their strike as the other two demands remain unaddressed.

Jagannath University, which became a full-fledged public university in 2005, has not held a single students’ union election since then. The law governing the university -- Jagannath University Act 2005 --does not include provisions for a student union.

Before its transition from college to university, the institution held 14 students’ union elections, the first being in the 1954–55 academic session.

Although students have repeatedly demanded elections over the years, authorities cited “legal complications” as the reason for the prolonged delay.