CUCSU election tomorrow after 35yrs

The Chittagong University (CU) authority has made all necessary preparations to conduct the CUCSU and hall council elections tomorrow (Wednesday).

After a 35-year wait, the highly anticipated Chittagong University Central Students' Union (CUCSU) and hall council elections will finally take place. The previous elections were held in 1990.

This year, a total of 27,521 students will be eligible to vote.

Students will cast their votes simultaneously from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at around 700 booths across 15 centers in five faculty buildings.

With just one day left until the polling, the campus is already buzzing with excitement. After decades without a student union, both students and the university administration have made preparations for a smooth and transparent electoral process.

In this year's election, ballot papers will be used for voting, while the counting will be done using the optical mark reader (OMR) system.

Voters will mark designated circles beside candidates' names and numbers. CCTV cameras will be placed in all polling centers except inside the secret voting booths, and students' photographs will be added to the voter list to prevent fake voting.

A total of 908 candidates are contesting in the student union and hall council elections, with 415 vying for 26 posts in CUCSU, and 493 competing for 14 posts in hall councils.

The voting will take place in 700 booths across 15 centers under five faculties, with faculty deans serving as returning officers and department heads acting as presiding officers.

Chief Election Commissioner, Professor of the Department of Chemistry Dr. Monir Uddin, told The Financial Express, "the campus is witnessing a festive atmosphere for the CUCSU election. We want this long-awaited election to be completely free from controversy."

He added that every step, from ballot printing to booth management, will be carried out under the direct supervision of the commission. The students are eagerly anticipating casting their votes in the CUCSU election.

He further mentioned that the voting and counting process will be broadcast live on 14 LED screens across the campus with uninterrupted power supply to ensure full transparency. With all preparations completed, a fair, peaceful, and participatory election is expected on October 15.

A total of 12 panels are contesting at the CUCSU election.

The panels are include 'Droho Porishad'(Treason Council), supported by Bangladesh Students Union and Samajtantrik Students Front, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Panel, 'Student Alliance of Harmony' supported by the Islami Chatra Shibir (ICS), 'Swatrantra Students Sommilon' backed by the students injured in the July movement, Swacheton Student Sangsad' backed by Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh (ICAB), 'Boichitrer Oikkyo' panel supported by political, social, caste-based organisations and individual students, Ohingsha Students Oikkyois a non-political alliance panel formed by students who believe in Sufi ideals, 'Sovereign Student Unity'panel, a non-political panel comprising leaders of various extra-curricular and co-curricular organisations of CU, 'Swatantra Students Jote' backed by Student Alliance for Democracy and the Chhatra Federation, 'CUCSU for Rapid Change' panel supported by the Chhatra Odhikar Porishad, 'World Insaniyat Biplab Student Front' backed panel named 'Revolution for State of Humanity' Revolution for State of Humanity and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and the Chhatra Majlis alliance.

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