SUST Election Standoff: Step-Down Stir Sparks Statements

Four election commissioners of the Central Students’ Union (SUCSU) at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) had tendered their resignations citing “personal reasons” on November 2. The four commissioners were Professor G. M. Robiul Islam of the Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology, Professor Dr. Md. Ashraf Siddiqui of the Department of Public Administration, Professor Dr. Rejwan Ahmed of the Department of Mathematics, and Professor Dr. Mohammad Manzur-ul-Haydar of the Department of Anthropology.

However, SUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury has now stated that the matter was a misunderstanding.

Responding to questions from journalists at the inauguration ceremony of the ShakSu election website on Tuesday, November 11, at 3:30 pm, the Vice-Chancellor said that the resignation issue was “a misunderstanding” and that all commissioners were currently performing their duties. “No one has resigned,” he said.

Following his remarks, one of the four commissioners present at the event also told reporters, “We are here; we have not resigned.”

Earlier, on October 27, the university administration had formed a 13-member election commission. Subsequently, on November 2, four of the commissioners submitted their resignation letters citing personal reasons, a matter they also confirmed in statements to multiple media outlets.

According to administrative sources, the Vice-Chancellor did not accept the resignation letters and instructed the commissioners to continue carrying out their responsibilities. Later, on November 3, the commission was expanded to 15 members with the addition of two new commissioners.

The development has sparked extensive discussion and criticism among both teachers and students across the campus.

DBTech/Jani/IK/OR