SUST Campus Erupts in Protest over Sudden Suspension of SUCSU Election
As university campuses across the country were already abuzz following elections at DUCSU, JUCSU, RUCSU, CUCSU and JnUCSU, attention had turned to the long-awaited election of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Central Students’ Union (SUCSU). At this critical moment, the Election Commission (EC) abruptly imposed a ban on all organisational elections from the evening of January 12 (Monday), citing the upcoming national parliamentary election.
Protesting the decision, students from various residential halls and messes brought out processions at around 11:00 pm and gathered at the Gol Chattar. They staged demonstrations demanding that the SUCSU election be held on its scheduled date of January 20. At the time of filing this report, students were continuing their protest march and sit-in in front of the Election Commission office.
During the protest, students chanted slogans such as: “No more delays over SUCSU,” “SUCSU on the 20th, we demand it,” “Come brothers, come sisters, let’s build a movement,” “We reject this illegal decision,” “Abu Sayeed Mugdha, the struggle isn’t over,” and “SUSTians unite, fight together.”
Speaking to the media, Professor Dr Nazrul Islam, spokesperson of the SUCSU Election Commission, said that if the EC notification is authentic, the university administration may have to coordinate with the Bangladesh Election Commission and suspend the SUCSU election.
Agitating students alleged that the university administration had earlier assured them that the national election would not affect the SUCSU polls. However, the last-minute suspension has been termed by them as a “reckless decision” and a “conspiracy.”
Meanwhile, the SUST admission test is scheduled to be held on Tuesday (January 13). Protesters warned that unless a clear assurance is given that the SUCSU election will be held on January 20, they will not allow the admission test to take place.
One protesting student said, “The admission test is tomorrow, and this notification has been issued just a day earlier so that we are pitched against admission candidates. This is a deliberate design or conspiracy. We will not accept any conspiracy. The SUCSU election must be held on the 20th; otherwise, we will launch a tougher movement.”
According to SUCSU Election Commission data, the central students’ union has 23 posts, with 97 candidates contesting. The total number of voters stands at 9,124. Of them, Shah Paran Hall has 2,220 voters, Bijoy-24 Hall 2,156, Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall 1,422, Ayesha Siddika Hall (female) 1,344, Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall 1,306, and Fatima Tuz Johra Hall 676 voters.
It may be noted that after nearly 29 years, the SUCSU election scheduled for January 20 had brought vibrant campaign activities back to the campus. The last SUCSU election was held in 1997. Available information shows that three full panels are contesting the election: Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed “Durbar SUSTian Oikya,” Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed “Sommilito SUSTian Oikya,” and left-leaning “Shadharoner OikyaSwar.” In addition, several students are contesting independently for different posts.
DBTech/STO/MUM/OR
