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Students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology have held meetings with the university administration and the Shahjalal University Central Students Union Election Commission following overnight protests over the issuing of a notice by the Election Commission.
The students are demanding the university administration announce a “clear stance” by 5pm on Tuesday on whether the SUCSU polls will be held on Jan 20, reports bdnews24.com.
On Monday night, the EC issued a notice calling for all elections to all professional and educational institutions across the country to be suspended until Feb 12. The notice sparked protests across the SUST campus.
Initially, the Chhatra Dal held a protest programme at the vice chancellor’s residence and roundabout, and in front of the Chhatra Shibir SUCSU election office. Later, candidates from all panels, as well as independent candidates and general students, took up positions front of the SUCSU Election Commission’s office at the IICT Bhaban and continued the protest.
The protest lasted late into the night, with the election commissioners for the SUCSU polls eventually coming to the aera. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Sajedul Karim eventually sat for talks with the students.
During the discussion, he told the students: “The notification has been issued by the Election Commission. The vice chancellor is currently in Dhaka. When he returns to the campus, an appeal will be filed against it and a decision will be taken according to procedure.”
The students then demanded a clear “yes” or “no” on whether the SUCSU elections would be held on Jan 20.
Responding to the students' demands, the Chief Election Commissioner of the SUCSU Election Steering Committee Prof Abul Mukid Mohammad Mukaddes told Sajedul: "We have no animosity with students. We are here to give our students a fair election."
"The vice-chancellor has instructed us to contact you in case of an emergency. Call the vice-chancellor now and tell him to go to the Election Commission by 10am on Tuesday and resolve the matter."
The students expressed their support of the CEC’s statement. Then Pro VC Sajedul called Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed and informed him of the students' demands.
Afterwards, Sajedul said: "The vice chancellor informed me that he is to meet the chief advisor and education advisor from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday. As such, he will be able to go to the Election Commission after 2pm."
After the discussion, the students set a deadline for the administration to announce a “clear stance” on whether the campus polls would be held on Jan 20 by 5pm on Tuesday.
Abu Saleh Md Nasim, a student of the Bengali department who took part in the meeting, said: "Our serious discussion is complete. There is no need for any further discussion here. Today, we will know at 5pm whether the VC sir is coming to us with a 'yes' or 'no'”.
“If they tell us ‘yes’, then the campaigning will continue as it has. If they say ‘no’, we will reject it.”
He said, “Let me suggest something - we will consider whether to say ‘yes’ to a VC who cannot bring us a ‘yes’ from the Election Commission.”
The students present at the meeting agreed with his statement.