OMR Machines and Ballots were Procured from a BNP Supporter, Demands JUCSU GS Candidate
Controversy Erupts Over OMR Machines in JACSU Election
Md. Majharul Islam, the General Secretary (GS) candidate of the Integrated Students’ Alliance in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JACSU) election, has claimed that the OMR machines and ballots were procured from a company owned by a BNP supporter.
Earlier in the day, Vice President (VP) candidate of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Md. Sheikh Sadi Hasan, alleged that the OMR machines had been purchased and ballots printed from an institution linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, and raised concerns over the use of CCTV cameras. Following the JCD’s boycott of the polls, the Integrated Students’ Alliance presented evidence to the press in the afternoon.
On Thursday, September 11, Majharul Islam stated, “It is being spread on social media that the OMR machines were purchased from a Jamaat leader’s institution. In fact, the CEO of HR SoftBD, Rokmunur Zaman Rony, is a BNP supporter. A visit to his Facebook profile makes it clear—he has repeatedly posted pictures with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other BNP leaders, and he has also posted against Jamaat.”
He added, “The issue is not which institution supplied the OMR machines, but whether the machines are technically sound. If we say our Vice Chancellor was once president of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum, does that mean the entire university has become BNP’s stronghold?”
Majharul also accused the JCD panel of occupying polling centers, creating mobs, and shifting blame. He alleged that they misbehaved with journalists and election officials.
Earlier at around 2 p.m., at a press conference in front of the Proctor’s Office at the Old Registrar Building, VP candidate Arif Ullah of the Integrated Students’ Alliance—supported by Islami Chhatra Shibir—claimed that JCD activists were creating a climate of fear in residential halls.
Meanwhile, following the boycott, three BNP-leaning teachers who had been serving as election officials stepped down from their responsibilities. They are Professor Nazrul Islam, Professor Shamima Sultana, and Nahrin Islam Khan.
This year, 177 candidates are contesting for 25 positions in the central students’ union. A total of eight panels, supported by leftist groups, Shibir, JCD, and independents, are participating. The election is being held across 21 centers—11 for male students and 10 for female students.
