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After a gap of 35 years, the long-awaited Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU), hall council and hostel council elections have begun.
A total of 27,516 students at Chittagong University can cast their ballots in the polls, which were scheduled to open at 9:00 am on Wednesday, but later opened at 9:30 am.
Polls are scheduled to close at 4:00 pm, according to a bdnews24.com report.
Azimul Shakib Shojib, a first-year student of the Department of Political Science, told bdnews24.com: “Within three months of my admission, I am getting the chance to vote in the CUCSU polls. This is the first chance I have had to cast a vote of any kind. That is why I have high hopes for it. I will vote with care.”
Taimul Hasib, a student of the Department of Philosophy, in the 2024-25 academic year, said: “I am a first-time voter because I was not able to vote in the last national parliament election. After Aug 5 last year, things have changed, and I am getting the opportunity to vote in the CUCSU election. To me, this is great. The joy of voting for the first time is different.”
He said, “We have many demands from those who are to be elected to the CUCSU. As representatives of the students, they will present our various issues to the administration.
“There have been no elections for a long time. As it is their first time, they may not be able to do much. But, at the very least, it will bring a trend of change under the changing landscape.”
According to Sneha, a second-year student of the Department of Fine Arts, the CUCSU elections have instilled hope among the students because they are getting the chance to cast a ballot after so many years.
“We will vote in a festive atmosphere to elect representatives who can speak clearly about our rights,” she added.
Expressing the hope that the elections will be held in a safe environment, Sneha said, “For a long time, the candidates have been campaigning in an atmosphere of harmony, and I hope that the elections will also be held peacefully.”
Polling centres are at five buildings -- the IT Building, New Arts Building, and faculties of Science, Social Science, and Business (BBA).
There will be about 700 booths in 60 rooms, with 400–500 students voting in each.
Chief Election Commissioner Prof Monir said CUCSU ballot papers will have four pages, while hall ballots will have one. Voters will fill in the circle beside their preferred candidate’s name and number.
“Vote counting will involve dual image scanning,” he explained. “One by the official counting team, another by IT cell programmers. The results will be announced only after both match perfectly.”
Each CUCSU and hall polling centre will be monitored by CCTV cameras.
This is the first CUCSU election since February 8, 1990.
For many students, this will be the first vote of their lives -- and the first CUCSU poll to use OMR (optical mark recognition) ballot papers. Visually impaired students will also be able to vote at separate booths.
Like national elections, transparent ballot boxes will be used. The administration has also arranged digital displays to show the voting process in real time.
As with any election, the campus has been abuzz with pledges and manifestos.
A total of 13 panels, combining full and partial alliances of student and cultural organisations, are contesting the polls. After more than three decades, students will elect successors to the legendary CUCSU leaders Nazim Uddin and Azim Uddin Ahmed.
But beyond politics, students’ core demands remain practical: solving the accommodation crisis, freeing residential halls from political control, improving transportation, ensuring campus safety, increasing funding for education, expanding research opportunities, and ensuring equality for all.
Many of the first-time voters of a new era say they are not looking for “typical student politicians” -- but for genuine representatives who will stand beside them and work for real change.
Students hope this long-awaited election will finally give rise to a CUCSU that restores freedom to dormitories and campus spaces, free from organisational dominance.
Campaigning officially ended at midnight on Monday after an 18-day run. There were no major clashes or disruptions, though the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of the BNP, and the Islami Chhatra Shibir, student faction of the Jamaat-e-Islami, accused each other of minor code violations.
Law-enforcing agencies say they see no major security threat.
“Unless there’s external interference, there’s no reason to fear,” a senior RAB officer said.
AKM Ariful Haque Siddique, member secretary of the CUCSU Election Commission, told bdnews24.com on Monday: “The overall situation is good. The final logistical touches are being completed. Ballot papers, boxes, and all key arrangements are ready.”
A RAB-7 team led by Lt Col Hafizur Rahman met with Chief Election Commissioner Prof Monir Uddin and University Proctor Hossain Shaid Shohrowardhy on Tuesday to review preparations.
“Police and APBn officers will be deployed in large numbers,” Lt Col Hafizur said. “RAB will have at least eight patrol teams on constant duty, backed by a reserve force. Plainclothes intelligence teams will also be active across the campus.”
He added, “There’s no threat from students. Unless external actors provoke unrest, we expect a peaceful election.”
WHO’S COMPETING AGAINST WHOM
A total of 13 panels, both partial and full, are contesting this year’s election. The Chhatra Dal has fielded a panel under its own banner, while Islami Chhatra Shibir is contesting under the name Sampriti Shikkharthi Jote.
The Bangladesh Students’ Union and the Socialist Students’ Front have formed the Droho Parshad. Meanwhile, a coalition of leftist and cultural groups is contesting under the Boichittrher Oikya panel.
As many as 24 candidates are contesting for vice-president (VP) and 22 for general secretary (GS). Only one woman is running for a top position -- Chowdhury Tasneem Jahan Srabon, contesting for GS under the Binirman Shikkharthi Oikya panel, led by Abir Bin Jabed for VP.
The last CUCSU election in 1981 saw Jasim Uddin Sarkar and Abdul Gaffar of Chhatra Shibir win VP and GS positions. 44 years on, the group is once again contesting for leadership through Sampriti Shikkharthi Jote nominees Ibrahim Hossain Roni and Sayeed Bin Habib.
The Chhatra Dal panel is led by Sajjad Hossain Hridoy (VP) and Md Shafayat Hossain (GS).
The Boichittrher Oikya panel is fronted by Dhrubo Barua and Sudarshan Chakma, while Droho Parishad is led by Rizu Luxmi Aboroadh and Ifaz Uddin Imu.
Independent candidates include Mahfuzur Rahman (VP) and Rashid Dinar (GS).
The Sarbojonin Shikkharthi Sangsad of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and Islami Chhatra Majlish has Tamjid Uddin (VP) and Sakib Mahmud Rume (GS).
The Sacheton Shikkharthi Sangsad of Islami Chhatra Andolon fields Abdur Rahman Robin and Md Abdur Rahman.
Other competing panels include Sarbabhoumo Shikkharthi Oikya and Ohingsha Shikkharthi Oikya, while Insaniyat Revolution Student Front is contesting under Revolution for the State of Humanity.
Among all, the strongest campaigns have come from Shibir and Chhatra Dal, both of which have maintained a strong online presence. The Boichittrher Oikya and Droho Parishad panels, representing leftist and cultural fronts, have also drawn significant attention on campus.
Chhatra Dal’s GS candidate Shafayat told bdnews24.com, “We reached out directly to students and received a positive response. We expect the administration to ensure a level playing field.”
Shibir’s VP candidate Ibrahim added, “Campaigning went peacefully. We hope for a good election day where everyone gets an equal chance and neutrality is maintained.”
Ordinary students say they will vote based on which candidates have best represented their concerns and offered realistic commitments. Many believe the main contest will be between the Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir panels, though leftist alliances have also made their mark.
CUCSU ELECTION FACTS
Registered Voters: 27,516
Male: 16,187
Female: 11,329
CUCSU Candidates: 415 candidates competing for 26 positions (including VP and GS)
Male: 348
Female: 47
Residential Halls & Hostel Elections: 14 halls + 1 hostel
Candidates: 493
Positions: 206