Shibir Wins JoCSU; Sukhimon Elected Science and Technology Secretary
The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir–backed panel “Adommo Jobiyan Oikya” won a landslide victory in the Jogannath University Central Students’ Union (JoCSU) election, securing decisive wins in nearly 15 key positions of the central body.
Among the winners from the panel is Mosammat Sukhimon Khatun, who was elected Science and Technology Affairs Secretary. A student of the 16th batch of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-inspired Life Sciences stream, she secured victory with 4,486 votes. Contesting with Ballot No. F-4, she defeated her nearest rival, Mashfikul Islam Rahim (3,176 votes), who ran with Ballot No. F-6. Sukhimon Khatun is also the president of the Jagannath University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatri Sangstha.
Speaking after her victory, Sukhimon said she aims to establish a central science laboratory to foster a modern research environment at Jagannath University, which she believes lags behind other campuses in technological facilities. She also pledged to organize science fairs and Olympiads, along with seminars and workshops to boost students’ interest and skills in science. Her plans further include campus-wide high-speed internet connectivity, improved sound systems, and the introduction of interactive classrooms.
In the JCSU election, candidates from the Shibir-supported Adommo Jabiyan Oikya panel won 16 out of the 21 posts, including Vice President (VP), General Secretary (GS), and Assistant General Secretary (AGS). The Chhatra Dal– and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad–backed panel “Oikyoboddho Nirbheek Jabiyan” won the remaining five posts.
The results were formally announced at 1:00 am on Wednesday, January 7, by the Chief Election Commissioner of JCSU, Professor Mostafa Hasan.
Previously, Islami Chhatra Shibir candidates had secured victories in the majority of positions in student and hall union elections at Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, and several other institutions. They also won most posts in the first-ever JCSU election.
In the JCSU polls, Riyazul Islam of Adommo Jabiyan Oikya was elected Vice President with 5,558 votes, defeating AKM Rakib of Oikyoboddho Nirbheek Jabiyan, who received 4,688 votes. Abdul Alim Arif won the General Secretary post with 5,475 votes, while his opponent Khadijat-ul Kubra secured 2,023 votes. Masud Rana was elected Assistant General Secretary with 5,020 votes, ahead of Atikul Islam Tanjil, who received 4,022 votes.
Other winners from the Shibir-backed panel include Md. Nurnabi as Liberation War and Democracy Affairs Secretary (5,400 votes), Ibrahim Khalil as Education and Research Secretary (5,524), Mosammat Sukhimon Khatun as Science and Technology Affairs Secretary (4,486), Nur Mohammad as Health and Environment Affairs Secretary (4,470), Habib Mohammad Faruk as Law and Human Rights Affairs Secretary (4,654), Naushin Nawar as International Affairs Secretary (4,401), Georgis Anwar Naim as Sports Secretary (2,467), and Mostafizur Rahman as Social Welfare and Student Affairs Secretary (3,486).
The Chhatra Dal–backed panel won three editorial posts: Takrim Mia as Literature and Culture Secretary with 5,385 votes, Mahid Hossain as Transport Secretary with 4,023 votes, and Md. Riasal Rakib as Library and Seminar Secretary with 4,698 votes.
Of the seven Executive Member positions, five were won by the Shibir-backed panel. Fatema Akter (Awrin) secured the highest number of votes with 3,851, followed by Akib Hasan (3,588), Shanta Akter (3,554), Zahid Hasan (3,124), and Md. Abdullah Al Faruq (2,917). Two candidates from the Chhatra Dal–backed panel—Mohammad Sadman Amin (3,307) and Imran Hasan Imon (2,636)—also won executive member posts.
Meanwhile, at Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall, the university’s only female residence hall, candidates from the Islami Chhatri Sangstha–backed Adommo Jabiyan Oikya panel won the posts of Vice President, General Secretary, and Assistant General Secretary. According to the results, Mosammat Jannatul Ummi won the VP post with 550 votes, while Sumaiya Tabassum was elected GS with 571 votes.
Following the announcement of the results, supporters of the Shibir-backed candidates brought out victory processions on campus, chanting slogans such as “Delhi na Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka,” “Tumi ke ami ke—Hadi Hadi,” and “Golami na Azadi—Azadi Azadi.” The celebrations concluded with the winners offering thanksgiving prayers at the university’s central mosque later that night.
Voting for the JCSU and hall union elections took place on January 6 from morning to afternoon. Balloting was conducted at 178 booths across 39 centers, with a total of 16,645 registered voters. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout was approximately 65 percent.
Vote counting began with the Geography and Environmental Science Department. Each ballot consisted of three pages, which were counted using three separate machines. For verification, the same ballot pages were then checked on three additional Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) machines. However, discrepancies of a single vote between two machines led to confusion, prompting the Election Commission to suspend counting temporarily. After discussions with candidates, the first 278 ballots were counted manually and then verified by machine. When technical glitches persisted during verification around 3:00 am, only machines whose results matched manual counts were used to resume full-scale counting. Through this combined analog–digital verification process, counting continued into the early morning hours.
DBTech/BDOP/AHB/OR
