RUCSU Election: Freshers call for inclusion in voter list

Freshers at Rajshahi University (RU) staged demonstrations demanding their inclusion in the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) voter list, drawing support from the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

On Thursday, students of the 72nd batch (2024-25 academic year) gathered in front of the university's administrative building and chanted slogans such as "We want voting rights" and "No RUCSU polls without freshers."

Chief Election Commissioner Prof Dr Nazrul Islam said, "According to existing rules, students whose results were published after July 27 are not eligible. Since the 72nd batch was admitted afterward, they cannot be included in the RUCSU voter list."

Md Benjir Hossain of the Islamic Studies Department said, "At Dhaka University, freshers can both vote and contest in DUCSU elections. But here at RU, we are being excluded, which is discriminatory."

Md Latifur Rahman added, "If we are not allowed to vote, we will intensify our movement. Dhaka University has set the example - first-year students should have this right here as well."

Abu Said of the Public Administration Department announced that students would form a human chain in front of the senate building on Saturday morning if their demands were ignored. "We will continue our campaign until our rights are ensured," he warned.

Meanwhile, the RU branch of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) submitted a five-point demand, which includes inclusion of 2024-25 session freshers and foreign students in the voter list, setting up polling centres in academic buildings, updating the voter list with photographs before the election, ensuring coexistence of all active student organisations in residential halls and guaranteeing a fair, non-discriminatory and participatory RUCSU election.

RU Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi accused certain teachers of favouring a specific student organisation to "capture" RUCSU. He further said, "If freshers are excluded, Chhatra Dal will not participate in the polls." The student body has given the administration a 10-day ultimatum to publish the updated voter list, making sure the inclusion of all students of the 2024-25 academic year.