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JU prepares to restore democratic practice after 33 years

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Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
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JU prepares to restore democratic practice after 33 years
  Bangla Press Desk: After a long gap of 33 years, Jahangirnagar University is set to hold elections on Thursday (11 September) for the Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall unions. Through this long-anticipated ballot, students’ long-cherished hopes for democratic practice on campus will finally be realised. The election campaign formally concluded on Tuesday night, leaving students engaged in intense last-minute debates over which candidates are likely to lead in the final stretch. However, no single panel or student organisation has been identified as a clear frontrunner. Students believe all the contenders are competing on their own merits, with voters expected to elect the most capable candidates on polling day. A total of eight panels, including both full and partial, are contesting this year’s JUCSU elections. Among them are a full panel backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the Chhatra Shibir-backed ‘Samonnito Chhatra Jote’, the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union-backed panel ‘Sammilito Unity Forum’, two panels supported by separate factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union ‘Sompiritir Oikko’ and ‘Songshoptok Parishad’, along with three independent panels.
While students are not rallying behind a single panel, they are considering several key factors before casting their votes, including the spirit of the July Movement, candidates’ personal image and leadership quality, involvement in social activities, and, in the case of candidates from political organisations, their record of party activities. Some have speculated that the outcome of the recently held Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election might influence JUCSU polls, though many students believe it will not be a decisive factor. Yet party-based reserve votes may still significantly sway results, giving candidates from established student organisations a slight advantage. At present, independent candidate Abdur Rashid Jitu, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-nominated Sheikh Sadi Hasan, BDSU-backed Arifuzzaman Ujjal, and Arif Ullah of the Samonnito Chhatra Jote are seen as strong contenders for the Vice-President (VP) post. For the position of General Secretary (GS), the race is heating up between Mazharul Islam of the Chhatra Shibir-backed panel, JCD-backed candidate Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi, and BDSU-nominated candidate Tauhid Mohammad Siam.
With women making up half of Jahangirnagar’s student body, most of them outside direct party peripheries, their votes are expected to play a decisive role in the final outcome. However, the university authorities and the election commission have completed all preparations for JUCSU. Polling takes place from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm across 224 booths in 21 halls, 10 of them for female students and 11 for males. Each centre will have a returning officer, supported by 67 polling officers and 67 assistant polling officers. Students will cast votes in 40 separate ballots for both central and hall councils, with counting to be conducted using special OMR machines. To ensure security, around 1,200 police personnel, both in uniform and in civil dress, will be deployed at designated points across the university campus, acting on the election commission’s directives. University security staff will oversee the polling centres and halls, while two magistrates will also be on duty. This marks the 10th JUCSU election in Jahangirnagar’s history, with 11,897 students eligible to vote. The polls are set to stand as the largest-ever demonstration of democratic practice in the university’s history. This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
BP/ZE
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

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