Voting Ends in All But Two Centre, Chatra Dal Boycotts Citing Irregularities

The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections concluded voting in 19 of 21 residential halls by 5:00 pm on Thursday, with the process marred by allegations of irregularities and a boycott by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-supported panel. The boycott was announced at 3:30 pm, roughly 90 minutes before the polls closed, during a press conference led by Chhatra Dal’s general secretary (GS) candidate Tanzila Hossain Baishakhi, alongside vice-presidential (VP) candidate Sheikh Sadi Hasan, assistant general secretary candidates, and other party activists. Baishakhi alleged widespread rigging, claiming that ballot papers were printed by a Jamaat-e-Islami-affiliated company and that CCTV cameras and other equipment from the same source were used to favor the Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported panel. She further accused the university administration of colluding with Shibir for “election engineering,” stating, “The students’ true mandate is not being reflected, forcing us to boycott.”

Voting, which began at 9:00 am across 21 halls, proceeded without major disruptions until the boycott, despite heavy rain complicating access for non-residential students. Nearly 12,000 students participated, with voter turnout increasing throughout the day. However, issues arose at specific centres: voting at Begum Fazilatunnesa Hall was halted for about 75 minutes and at Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Hall for 30 minutes due to disputes involving Chatra Dalcandidates. Baishakhi was reportedly denied entry during an inspection at a hall, and Sadi Hasan entered a polling centre around 12:30 pm, alleging vote rigging, which sparked further tensions. At Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, ballot papers incorrectly instructed voters to select one candidate instead of three for executive member posts, an error later rectified. Additionally, female journalists faced restrictions accessing women’s polling centres.

Other allegations included excessive ballots at some centres, violations of the code of conduct, delays in doping test results, restricted access for polling agents despite permissions, and claims of a Jamaat-linked company supplying ballots and OMR machines, allegedly enabling Shibir to execute a “blueprint” for victory. In response, the election commission switched to manual vote counting, abandoning OMR machines. Vote counting is now underway at individual halls, with final results to be announced from the Senate Hall.

The election saw 177 candidates contesting 25 JUCSU posts and 445 candidates vying for 315 hall union posts across 21 halls (11 male, 10 female). Total voters numbered 11,843, with 6,115 male and 5,728 female students, each casting 40 ballots (25 for JUCSU, 15 for hall unions). Competing panels include: ‘Independent Students’ Alliance’ led by Abdur Rashid Jitu (VP) and Md. Shakil Ali (GS); Chatra Dalled by Sheikh Sadi Hasan (VP) and Tanzila Hossain Baishakhi (GS); Islami Chhatra Shibir’s ‘Integrated Students’ Alliance’ led by Arifullah Adib (VP) and Mazharul Islam (GS); Bangladesh Chhatra Adhikar Parishad’s ‘United Solidarity Forum’ led by Arifuzzaman Ujjwal (VP) and Abu Touhid Mohammad Siam (GS); ‘Harmony Alliance’ with Sharan Ehsan (GS), Nur E Tamim Srot (AGS-Male), and Faria Zaman Niki (AGS-Female), though its VP candidate Amartya Ray Jon was disqualified; and Chhatra Union-Chhatra Front’s ‘Sangshaptak Parishad’ led by Zahidul Islam Emon (GS) and Sohagi Samia Jannatul Ferdous (AGS-Female). The boycott and allegations have cast a shadow over this historic election, the first in 33 years, as the university awaits the final results.