Female representation strikingly low in JUCSU election

Despite forming nearly half the electorate, females' participation in the upcoming Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall council elections remains strikingly low, with no nominations for four top executive posts, including vice president.

According to the JUCSU Election Commission, the university has 11,919 registered voters, including 6,102 male and 5,817 female.

A total of 740 nominations have been filed, including 273 for 25 JUCSU central posts and 467 for 315 hall-level positions.

Female representation remains disproportionately low in hall councils. From the 10 women halls, only 128 nominations have been submitted, compared to 289 nominations from 11 men halls. Several women halls could not secure enough candidates to contest all 15 available seats.

At the central level, out of 276 nominations for 25 JUCSU posts, only 57 came from female students- five times fewer than male candidates.

No women are running for vice president or the three other top portfolios.

Besides, not a single woman is contesting for Literature and Publication Secretary, Sports Secretary, Social Service and Human Resource Development Secretary, or Transport and Communication Secretary.

Most electoral panels have fielded women mainly in reserved positions, while none including those backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and cultural alliances have nominated female candidates for president or general secretary.

"Women are losing interest in politics due to issues like slut-shaming, tagging, and harassment," said Zaiba Zafrin Nuva, a third-year Law student.