RUCSU Revival: Tofayel, the Science and Technology Secretary

After nearly 20 hours of continuous counting before LED screens, the long-awaited Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election results were officially announced on Friday morning, October 17 — marking the revival of the student parliament after a 35-year hiatus.

The official announcement began at around 8:30 am at Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium, where Chief Election Commissioner Professor F. Nazrul Islam declared the final results for the RAKSU central body, hall unions, and student representatives to the Senate.

According to the announced results, Toffayel Ahmed Toffa, an independent candidate, narrowly defeated Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported alliance candidate Md. Hasan Hawlader by just 27 votes (9780 to 9753) to become the Science and Technology Secretary. Toffa’s campaign slogan, “Biggyane 8 is Well,” gained significant traction among young voters through his strong online presence on Instagram and other social media platforms. His rival, Naeemul Islam Naeem, received 1,957 votes.

Meanwhile, Mojahidul Islam Sayem of the Shibir-backed Combined Student Alliance maintained his position as Assistant Science and Technology Secretary.

In the central positions, the race for the top two posts — Vice President (VP) and Assistant General Secretary (AGS) — was contested between the Shibir-backed Combined Student Alliance and the BNP-backed United New Generation panel. The Combined Student Alliance’s candidate Mostakur Rahman Zahid won the VP post, while S.M. Salman Sabbir secured the AGS position. Salahuddin Ammar of the Anti-Dominance Unity panel won the General Secretary (GS) post, defeating Shibir-backed candidate Fazle Rabbi Md. Fahim Reza.

Apart from the Sports and Science & Technology Secretary posts, Shibir-backed candidates dominated most other positions, including cultural, research, media, and social service secretaries.

National women’s footballer Nargis Khatun of the BNP-backed United New Generation panel won the Sports Secretary position, while Abu Sayeed Mohammad became Assistant Sports Secretary. Other winners included:

• Cultural Secretary: Zahid Hasan; Assistant: Mohammad Rakibul Islam

• Women’s Secretary: Sayyeda Hafsa; Assistant: Samia Jahan

• Information and Research Secretary: B.N. Najmus Sakib; Assistant: Sifat Abu Saleh

• Media and Publication Secretary: Mohammad Mojahid Islam; Assistant: Asadullah

• Science and Technology Secretary: Toffayel Ahmed Toffa (Independent); Assistant: Mojahidul Islam Sayem

• Debate and Literature Secretary: Imran Mia Laskar; Assistant: Mohammad Nayon Hossain

• Environment and Social Welfare Secretary: Abdullah Al Masud; Assistant: Masuma Islam Mumu

Out of the total 20,187 votes cast across 17 residential halls, Mostakur Rahman Zahid, the VP candidate from the Combined Student Alliance, received 12,587 votes, while his nearest rival Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir from the United New Generation panel secured 3,397 votes.

For the GS post, Anti-Dominance Unity candidate Salahuddin Ammar garnered 11,537 votes against 5,729 for Shibir-backed Fazle Rabbi Md. Fahim Reza.

In the AGS contest, S.M. Salman Sabbir (Combined Student Alliance) won with 6,971 votes, narrowly defeating BNP-backed candidate Jahin Biswas Esha, who received 5,941.

Elected executive members include Mohammad Deep Mahbub, Mohammad Imjial Haque Kamali, Sujan Chandra, and A.B.M. Khaled.

Additionally, the newly elected Senate representatives are Salahuddin Ammar, Mostakur Rahman Zahid, Fahim Reza, Aqil Bin Taleb, and Salman Sabbir.