Thursday, 16 October, 2025
Despite multiple allegations of irregularities in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has stood firm in their resolve to continue the race.
Around three hours after polls closed on Wednesday, the party’s Chittagong University chapter held a media briefing at the Buddhijibi Chottor, detailing the alleged irregularities, reports bdnews24.com.
Party leaders accused the university administration and the election commission of failing in their duties.
Complaints were reportedly ignored, with officials responding only with “we are observing”, evading responsibility.
The party’s vice-president candidate, Sajjad Hossain Hridoy, said the chief election commissioner had assured that the polls would set a benchmark, drawing from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities.
“But we saw irregularities at every stage. Yet both the election commission and the university administration remained indifferent,” he said.
CAMPAIGNING, SLIP DISTRIBUTION AT CENTRES
Election rules prohibit campaigning within 100 yards of polling centres. The party’s AGS candidate, Ayubur Rahman Toufiq, alleged that in multiple centres, several candidates campaigned even during voting hours and distributed voting slips directly among voters.
“All this happened in front of the election commission staff. Yet no action was taken,” he said.
Toufiq also claimed that indelible ink on voters’ fingers had faded in several cases, raising concerns that multiple votes could have been cast.
UNSIGNED BALLOTS, SCREEN OUTAGES
Several centres reportedly received ballots without signatures, with polling staff admitting that a few papers were “accidentally left unsigned”.
Toufiq warned such “errors” could indicate deliberate malpractice.
In addition, LED screens installed in each building are frequently shut down for 40-45 minutes without explanation.
The commission later reported that the screens’ wires had been cut, suggesting acts of sabotage.
“With police and security deployed, how could anyone cut the wires?” Toufiq questioned.
VIOLENCE AND PRESENCE OF OUTSIDERS
By late afternoon, tensions flared around the New Arts Building. Chhatra Dal alleged that outsiders attempted to attack their supporters with sticks and bricks.
“We saw clearly that non-students were running toward the centres,” Toufiq said.
Similar reports emerged in the BBA, Social Science, Mass Communication, and Science faculty buildings, where unknown individuals allegedly harassed voters and distributed slips to exert influence.
The organisation questioned the administration’s role, saying repeated written and verbal complaints produced no effective action.
RESULTS AND FUTURE DECISIONS
Vote counting continued into the night, but Toufiq said Chhatra Dal might reject the results.
“We came to vote for students’ rights. Accepting results where there is irregularity, bias, and outsider interference legitimises injustice,” he said.
“The election commission has said all complaints will be considered and, if necessary, an inquiry committee will be formed. But no official investigation has been announced.”
During the press conference, VP candidate Hridoy and GS candidate Shafayet Hossain addressed the media.
Hridoy criticised the lack of indelible ink, saying: “When the election commissioner was informed, he expressed regret that he couldn’t provide ink, yet never informed us beforehand, revealing his failure.”
He also accused the commission of failing to maintain continuous LED monitoring.
“During counting, the LED screens were off in several centres. While some candidates, including those from Islamic student groups, campaigned inside, other panel candidates couldn’t enter,” he said.
MORE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT
Shafayet reported that around 400 unsigned ballots were found in the BBA faculty ballot boxes. In rooms 231 and 232, Farhad Hall’s GS candidate personally oversaw the ballot box, while an independent candidate was forcibly removed.
He said, “We sought a fair election and a level playing field from the administration. They failed. Even many respected faculty members acted with bias. Ordinary students will judge this injustice.”
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Despite multiple allegations of irregularities in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has stood firm in their resolve to continue the race.
Around three hours after polls closed on Wednesday, the party’s Chittagong University chapter held a media briefing at the Buddhijibi Chottor, detailing the alleged irregularities, reports bdnews24.com.
Party leaders accused the university administration and the election commission of failing in their duties.
Complaints were reportedly ignored, with officials responding only with “we are observing”, evading responsibility.
The party’s vice-president candidate, Sajjad Hossain Hridoy, said the chief election commissioner had assured that the polls would set a benchmark, drawing from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities.
“But we saw irregularities at every stage. Yet both the election commission and the university administration remained indifferent,” he said.
CAMPAIGNING, SLIP DISTRIBUTION AT CENTRES
Election rules prohibit campaigning within 100 yards of polling centres. The party’s AGS candidate, Ayubur Rahman Toufiq, alleged that in multiple centres, several candidates campaigned even during voting hours and distributed voting slips directly among voters.
“All this happened in front of the election commission staff. Yet no action was taken,” he said.
Toufiq also claimed that indelible ink on voters’ fingers had faded in several cases, raising concerns that multiple votes could have been cast.
UNSIGNED BALLOTS, SCREEN OUTAGES
Several centres reportedly received ballots without signatures, with polling staff admitting that a few papers were “accidentally left unsigned”.
Toufiq warned such “errors” could indicate deliberate malpractice.
In addition, LED screens installed in each building are frequently shut down for 40-45 minutes without explanation.
The commission later reported that the screens’ wires had been cut, suggesting acts of sabotage.
“With police and security deployed, how could anyone cut the wires?” Toufiq questioned.
VIOLENCE AND PRESENCE OF OUTSIDERS
By late afternoon, tensions flared around the New Arts Building. Chhatra Dal alleged that outsiders attempted to attack their supporters with sticks and bricks.
“We saw clearly that non-students were running toward the centres,” Toufiq said.
Similar reports emerged in the BBA, Social Science, Mass Communication, and Science faculty buildings, where unknown individuals allegedly harassed voters and distributed slips to exert influence.
The organisation questioned the administration’s role, saying repeated written and verbal complaints produced no effective action.
RESULTS AND FUTURE DECISIONS
Vote counting continued into the night, but Toufiq said Chhatra Dal might reject the results.
“We came to vote for students’ rights. Accepting results where there is irregularity, bias, and outsider interference legitimises injustice,” he said.
“The election commission has said all complaints will be considered and, if necessary, an inquiry committee will be formed. But no official investigation has been announced.”
During the press conference, VP candidate Hridoy and GS candidate Shafayet Hossain addressed the media.
Hridoy criticised the lack of indelible ink, saying: “When the election commissioner was informed, he expressed regret that he couldn’t provide ink, yet never informed us beforehand, revealing his failure.”
He also accused the commission of failing to maintain continuous LED monitoring.
“During counting, the LED screens were off in several centres. While some candidates, including those from Islamic student groups, campaigned inside, other panel candidates couldn’t enter,” he said.
MORE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT
Shafayet reported that around 400 unsigned ballots were found in the BBA faculty ballot boxes. In rooms 231 and 232, Farhad Hall’s GS candidate personally oversaw the ballot box, while an independent candidate was forcibly removed.
He said, “We sought a fair election and a level playing field from the administration. They failed. Even many respected faculty members acted with bias. Ordinary students will judge this injustice.”
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