RUCSU Polls After 35 Years Under CC Camera Surveillance Amid Renewed Student Unrest

According to the revised schedule, the long-awaited election of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU ), hall unions, and student representatives to the Senate will be held on Thursday, October 16. With campaigning now over, 100 CCTV cameras have been installed facing transparent ballot boxes at 990 polling booths to ensure transparency and security. Several booths—constructed from white cloth, bamboo, and wood—have already been set up, each equipped with a table and surveillance camera inside.

After a 35-year hiatus, this year’s election will see 28,901 registered voters. A total of 247 candidates will contest 23 positions in RUCSU, while 58 candidates will vie for five seats in the Senate student representative election. Among them, 18 candidates will compete for the post of Vice President (VP), 13 for General Secretary (GS), and 16 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).

For the post of Information and Research Secretary, 13 candidates are contesting. Other key posts include: Sports Secretary (8 candidates), Assistant Sports Secretary (6), Cultural Secretary (10), Assistant Cultural Secretary (9), Women’s Affairs Secretary (6), Assistant Women’s Affairs Secretary (8), and Assistant Information and Research Secretary (8).

In addition, 9 candidates are contesting for Media and Publication Secretary, 9 for Assistant Media and Publication Secretary, 9 for Science and Technology Secretary, 8 for Assistant Science and Technology Secretary, 6 for Debate and Literary Secretary, 8 for Assistant Debate and Literary Secretary, 12 for Environment and Social Welfare Secretary, 16 for Assistant Environment and Social Welfare Secretary, and 55 for Executive Member positions.

The most discussed panels in this election include: the BNP-backed “United New Generation” panel, Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported “Combined Students’ Alliance,” the “RAKSU for Radical Change” led by the Student Rights Council and Student Federation, “Anti-Hegemonic Unity” led by former coordinators, the Left Alliance’s “Democratic Students’ Council,” the Student Union’s “Aporajeyo 71, Oprotihoto 24,” the “Universal Students’ Parliament” led by a former female coordinator, and Islami Chhatra Andolan’s “Conscious Students’ Council.”

According to university sources, the first students’ union election was held in the 1956–57 session, three years after the university’s establishment. During Pakistan’s 14-year rule, ten elections were held, while only six have taken place in the 54 years since independence.

In its first two terms, the union was known as the “Rajshahi University Students’ Union (RUSU).” It was later renamed the “Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU),” under which 14 elections were held. The last election took place in the 1989–90 session, after which all RUCSU  activities remained suspended for 35 years.

The resurgence of student activism following the 2024 mass uprising pushed the university administration to announce the election schedule amid growing student pressure demanding their democratic rights.