Shibir bags most of Jucsu posts too
For the very first time in the history of Jahangirnagar University, Islami Chhatra Shibir has swept the central student union polls, winning 20 of the 25 posts.
While Swantantra Shikkharthi Sommilon's Abdur Rashid Zitu was elected vice-president, Shibir-backed Samonnito Shikkharthi Jote's Mazharul Islam secured the general secretary post.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Zitu received 3,334 votes and his Shibir-backed rival Arif Ullah Adib 2,392.
Mazharul, a master's student of English and office secretary of JU Shibir, bagged 3,930 votes, while Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad candidate Abu Tauhid Mohammad Siam got 1,238.
A master's student of comparative literature and culture, Zitu was a central coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination platform, which spearheaded the July uprising. Before that, he was an executive member of JU Chhatra League, which was banned as organisation in October last year.
After becoming VP, Zitu vowed to end all forms of party-backed political activities on campus.
At a post-result briefing, he said, "Our first task will be to put an end to partisan political practices at Jahangirnagar University. We've seen how such activities disrupt students' academic lives. We'll work to ensure a fully safe and education-friendly campus."
He added that he would work to make the campus inclusive for all, regardless of caste, creed, or colour.
Newly elected GS Mazharul said they want to build a "dream campus", free from domination and dictatorship, for the students. "We don't think this election has lost its credibility in any way. There were no errors or irregularities in the vote counting process. An election where almost 70 percent of votes were cast is surely a successful one."
"We have seen that different candidates complained in the media about the election. But to the Election Commission, no such irregularities were found."
A total of 67.93 percent of votes were cast. An analysis of the final list shows that out of 315 posts across 11 male and 10 female halls, 131 were uncontested while 68 remained vacant.
Students voted for 25 posts in Jucsu and 315 posts across 15 halls, with 177 candidates vying for the central positions and 443 for hall union positions.
Although the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel boycotted the election midway, its VP candidate Sheikh Sadi Hasan came in fourth with 648 votes. Their GS candidate Tanjila Hossain Boishaki also finished fourth with 941 votes.
With a partial panel in 11 halls, the number of posts won by the JCD could not be known immediately.
Shibir did not officially give any panel at the halls.
Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad-backed candidates won two posts -- executive member and social welfare and human resource development -- while three independents won three posts: athlete secretary and cultural secretaries.
From the Shibir-backed panel, Ferdous Al Hasan won the assistant general secretary (male) post (2,358 votes) and Ayesha Siddiqa Meghla clinched the AGS (female) post (3,402 votes).
On September 9, the Shibir-backed Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote won 23 out of 28 posts, including the top three, in the Ducsu polls.
The Jucsu election results were announced at the university's Senate Bhaban around 5:40pm yesterday, over 46 hours after voting ended in the last centre, by Chief Election Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman.
The announcement began with a one-minute silence in memory of JU Assistant Prof Jannatul Ferdous Moumita, who passed away while coming to count votes on Thursday night.
Around 4:20pm, Shibir supporters gathered at the building to hear the results. Once their candidates' names were announced, they cheered and chanted "Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar!" (Shout forth the praise of God, Allah is the Greatest!) and "Mujibbaad, murdabad!" (down with Mujibism!).
Jucsu Election Commission Member Secretary Prof AKM Rashidul Alam, while announcing the results, said that although some candidates raised allegations of irregularities and mismanagement in the media, the commission's investigation found no such evidence.
He, however, admitted that some mistakes were made. "Holding the Jucsu election after 33 years, maybe some small errors occurred here and there. When we try to achieve something big, sometimes we overlook the small things. So, if any mistakes took place, we're asking for forgiveness today [yesterday] on behalf of the commission."
Rashidul added that the commission had received several complaints during the polls and verbally warned some candidates accordingly.
He said the EC originally planned to prepare the results digitally. "But it's unfortunate that we received written requests from two organisations asking us to do it manually. We responded to their request. You saw, all of us worked hard for two days to complete it."
However, the delay in result announcement was not well received by students, teachers and candidates.
After voting ended on Thursday, at 5:00pm in most centres and at 7:00pm in one due to a delayed start in voting, the commission said the results would be announced the following morning. They later deferred it to the afternoon, then Friday night, and then to yesterday. The announcement began at 5:39pm and continued for two hours.
The polls were marred by allegations of mismanagement, irregularities, and boycotts that sparked widespread concerns, especially following the resignation of Jucsu EC member Prof Rezwana Karim Snigdha yesterday afternoon. With her resignation, two out of five EC members stepped down from their posts.
On Friday night, Prof Mufruhi Sattar, another Jucsu EC member, also stepped down, claiming that the allegations were true. Besides, three teachers involved in the election process also resigned on voting day, citing similar allegations.
The election became further questionable when five out of eight panels -- Chhatra Dal, Sampritir Oikya, Swatantra Angikar Parishad, Songshoptak Parshad, and Socialist Student Front -- withdrew and demanded fresh polls over the same allegations.
Jahangirnagar University officially started its journey 54 years ago, on January 12, 1971, while Jucsu was established in 1972. Its first election was held that very year, and then in '73 and '74.
Later, they were held in 1980, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992. In the last 1992 polls, JCD won 105 of 107 Jucsu and hall council posts.
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