SUST protests demanding SUCSU polls as scheduled
Students Protest High Court Writ Seeking Delay of SUCSU Polls
The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus in Sylhet has turned volatile as students staged protests against a High Court writ petition seeking to stay the Shahjalal University Central Students' Union (SUCSU) election. The students took to the streets today, Monday (January 19), demanding that the polls be held on the pre-scheduled date.
The SUCSU and hall union elections were originally scheduled to take place tomorrow, Tuesday (January 20). However, on Sunday, Mominur Rashid Shuvo, an independent VP candidate, filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a stay on the election.
The writ petition argued that organizing student union polls at this time is not lawful, citing a directive from the Election Commission (EC) to suspend all types of elections ahead of the National Parliamentary Election.
Protests on Campus
The news of the writ petition sparked immediate reactions among general students. Around 11:00 AM on Monday, students gathered in front of various residential halls and academic buildings to hold protest marches. They demanded that all legal complications be resolved immediately to allow the election to proceed. Protesters alleged that after years of waiting for the SUCSU election, attempts are being made to obstruct it at the final hour.
Meanwhile, the university election commission stated that all preparations for a fair and neutral election have been completed. However, further decisions will depend on the directives issued by the High Court.
Parallel Protests in Dhaka
In a related development, the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal is currently besieging the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, with a three-point demand, including the withdrawal of the SUCSU election notification.
The organization claims that the EC issued an "unprecedented and controversial" notification regarding the SUST student union election under the direct influence of a specific political party. According to the group, this notification is an "ominous sign" for democratic practices within the university.
Mujahidul Islam, the General Secretary (GS) candidate from the Shibir-backed 'Durbar Sustian Oikya Panel,' said, "During Hasina's regime, student union elections were not allowed for decades through muscle power. Now, a certain group, having become politically bankrupt, is trying to snatch away the democratic rights of students under various excuses."
He added, "We will not accept this. We will not return home until the verdict is in favor of the students. We hope the High Court will rule in favor of the students today."
