Shibir-backed Panel Sweeps 20 of 23 Hall Union Posts in RUCSU Elections

The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed "Sommilita Shikkharthi Jot" panel dominated the Rajshahi University Hall Union elections, securing victory in 20 of 23 posts across 17 halls. The results, announced on Friday at 8:30am at Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium by Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. F. Nazrul Islam, showed the panel winning the vice president (VP) and assistant general secretary (AGS) posts in most halls, while the Chatra Dal-backed panel failed to secure any of the three major posts (VP, GS, AGS) in any hall.

The Shibir panel's Mostakur Rahman (Jahid) won the VP post with 12,687 votes, defeating Chhatra Dal-backed Sheikh Noor Uddin (Abir) who secured 3,397 votes. In the GS post, Salahuddin Ammar from the Anti-Hegemony Unity panel (former convener-led) won with 11,497 votes, outpacing Shibir's Fazle Rabbi Md. Fahim Reza (5,727 votes). Both Ammar and Reza are former coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement.

The Shibir panel dominated other posts, including department secretary, joint department secretary, sports and culture secretary, girls welfare secretary, science and technology secretary, and most executive members. The only exceptions were the GS post won by Ammar's panel and two posts claimed by the "United New Generation" panel led by Chhatra Dal: Toffael Ahmed Toffa as science and technology secretary and Mocha. Nargis Khatun as sports secretary, who is also a national women's football player.

A total of 305 candidates competed for 23 RUCSU posts, 58 for 5 Senate student representatives, and 555 for 255 hall positions. The elections, the first in 35 years, saw 28,901 eligible voters, with 11 panels contesting. The panels included Chhatra Dal-backed "United New Generation," Shibir-supported "Sommilita Shikkharthi Jote," "RUCSU for Radical Change" (Chhatra Adhikar Parishad and Federation), "Anti-Hegemony Unity" (former convenors), left-wing "Gonotantrik Shikkharthi Porishad," Chhatra Union faction's "Aporajey 71, Apratirhodhyo 24," female convener-led "Sorbojonin Shikkharthi Shongshod," Islami Chhatra Andolan-backed "Suchaton Shikkharthi Porishod," and others.