Nine panels announced for RUCSU election, only two complete

Students of Rajshahi University have announced nine panels for the central students’ union (RUCSU) and hall union elections, but apart from the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir, none have presented a complete list of candidates.

Among them, six are backed by political student organisations, while three are led by former student movement leaders, a social organisation, and independent students.

The panels and organisations that have registered so far include the Chhatra Dal-backed panel, Jamaat-e-Islami-supported Sammilito Shikkharti Jote, the RUCSU for Radical Change panel by the Students’ Rights Council and Student Federation, the Democratic Student Council panel by the Democratic Student Alliance, the Sacheton Shikkharti Parishad by the Islamic Student Movement, the Aporajeyo-71, Aprotirodhyo-24 panel by a faction of the Student Union, and the ‘Adhipottyobirodhi Oikyo’ panel led by Students Against Discrimination.

Notably, the first nomination on opening day was collected by Taebul Alam Faraji from Shahjalal Hall for the post of sports secretary.

According to the election schedule, the RUCSU election will be held on Oct 12, after a gap of 35 years.

Discussions about the election have been ongoing for some time, but it was only after the July Uprising that the demand for students’ union elections gained momentum across public universities.

The election schedule was officially announced on Aug 28, with the last RUCSU election held on Feb 8, 1990.

Rajshahi University has 14 halls and one hostel, with five for female students and 10 for male students. A total of 27,634 students from 49 departments and five institutes are eligible to vote. The final voter list, along with details for hall-based candidates, is scheduled to be published soon.

The preliminary candidate list will be published on Sept 21, followed by the final list on Sept 25. Nominations can be withdrawn by Sept 23, and objections will be resolved the following day.

Campaigning will start from the announcement of the final list and will continue until 24 hours before voting. Campaigning will be allowed from 10am to 10pm.

RUCSU elections will include 23 positions, with 19 for vice-president, general secretary, and assistant general secretary, and five for Senate representatives.