RUCSU Elections Postponed Thrice Amid Campus Unrest and Quota Controversies

The Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) elections, a platform for securing students' rights, have faced significant disruptions, with the voting date postponed three times and rescheduled four times. The schedule has been restructured seven times due to protests by teachers, officers, and employees, as well as student group activities, particularly from Chhatra Dal. The latest setback stems from heightened tensions over the reinstatement of the "dependent quota" for admissions, leading to the election being deferred from September 25 to October 16.

On September 20, just five days before the scheduled vote, clashes erupted over the reinstatement of institutional facilities (dependent quota) for children of teachers, officers, and employees. The incident saw Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Moin Uddin, Deputy Registrar Robiul Islam, and others humiliated. In response, teachers, officers, and employees held a full-day work stoppage on September 21, demanding punishment for those involved.

This escalated into an indefinite "complete shutdown" by officers and employees starting September 22, alongside a teacher boycott of classes and exams, further derailing the elections.

On Wednesday (September 24), officers and employees suspended their shutdown, issuing a seven-day ultimatum for demand fulfillment. However, BNP-aligned teachers continue their class and exam boycott. General Secretary of the Nationalist Teachers' Forum, Professor Dr. Amirul Islam, stated in a briefing yesterday, "We have not withdrawn our program yet. We will continue until our demands are met."

While panels including Chhatra Shibir protested the postponement, groups like Chhatra Dal expressed elation. Amid this polarization, doubts persist about whether the October 16 vote will proceed. RAB branch Chhatra Shibir Secretary Mujahid Faisal remarked, "The resolved dependent quota issue has been used as a trump card around RUCSU elections. One group has deliberately raised various issues to sabotage the polls."

Chhatra Dal panel Vice-Presidential candidate Sheikh Nuruddin Abir added, "Amid the electoral fervor, the quota reinstatement movement is being revived repeatedly. We've seen a clear attempt to derail RUCSU. Bringing back a quota abolished seven months ago is undoubtedly planned."

Fuwad Ratul, Convener of the Socialist Student Front and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Democratic Students' Council panel, opined, "One side is complicating the situation to unilaterally seize RUCSU, while another wants to derail it. These circumstances are being deliberately created for political gain, not RUCSU's interest."

Vice-Presidential candidate Tasnim Khan of the Universal Students' Council panel said, "An unstable environment has been created by raising resolved issues. It should have been addressed first. Otherwise, protests will resume before the next date. This situation has been engineered intentionally."

Joint General Secretary candidate Salahuddin Ammar of the Anti-Authoritarian Unity panel echoed, "We all want a participatory RUCSU. But I believe the crisis causing this was deliberately manufactured."

Students blame teachers' protests for creating the conditions for the delay, but leading faculty members deny any connection to RUCSU. Nationalist Teachers' Forum President Professor Dr. Abdul Alim stated, "We had one demand accepted by the administration, leading us to withdraw our program. But the attack on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor forced us back into action."

Jamaat-aligned teacher Professor Kamrul Ahsan, leading the protests, explained, "First-year classes started nearly a month ago, but no final decision on our demands has been announced. This growing anxiety among teachers, officers, and employees prompted our program."

Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. F. Nazrul Islam offered reassurance: "The schedule has been restructured several times, and the date postponed thrice due to an unsuitable electoral environment, partly created by students. But the boat won't sink at the shore. RUCSU elections will happen—we're firmly optimistic about October 16."

The dependent quota, abolished in July amid national protests, was revived on September 20, sparking the current crisis. Two probe committees—one internal and one judicial—were formed on September 21 to investigate the clashes. With mixed reactions from student leaders—some welcoming the delay, others decrying it as sabotage—the path to a fair election remains uncertain.