The ballot counting for the JUCSU polls has entered its third consecutive day, with turns and twists and rising tensions.
Election officials are working in shifts, but the process has been marred by mismanagement and tragedy, with the death of a teacher involved in the counting process.
The election took place across 21 residential halls on Thursday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Ballot boxes were then transported to the Senate Building, where counting began around 10:00pm on Thursday.
Speaking anonymously, a returning officer criticised the election commission for its failure to manage the election properly, stating, "Commission member secretary AKM Rashedul Alam single-handedly pulled off the entire preparation. If the Election Commission had shown genuine intent, the election could have been conducted smoothly. But it seems no one had that intent."
Tension rises as crowds gather near JU campus
Crowds of people have gathered around key areas near Jahangirnagar University, including the main gate, Prantik gate, and Bishmile gates, as well as in Islamnagar, Ambagan, and Gerua. Security forces report an increase in activity since Thursday night, following the completion of the voting process. Many of those present are believed to be members of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Students have expressed discomfort with the situation, noting that the individuals, while seemingly harmless, create a tense atmosphere. There are concerns that any disturbances on campus could escalate into violence. This unprecedented scenario has left students uncertain about how to navigate the ongoing tension.
A life cut short: Tragic death of a teacher
Jannatul Ferdous, a teacher at Jahangirnagar University, collapsed and died Friday morning while performing her duties during the JUCSU and hall union elections. Her colleagues blamed mismanagement in the ballot-counting process for this tragic incident.
Her colleague and Faizunnesa Hall's Returning Officer Professor Sultana Akter expressed frustration in a press conference on Friday afternoon. She said, "Had the counting been done by machine, the results would have been finished by midnight. My colleague Jannatul Ferdous would not have died. She was under stress from the vote counting. She died due to the election commission's mismanagement."
Delayed and leaked results spark controversy
The election commission had initially stated that the results might be announced by Friday afternoon. However, as the day passed, the timeline was pushed back multiple times. By Friday evening, students were informed that the results would be released by night, only to hear later that the Commission was aiming for a Saturday afternoon announcement.
After it was announced that the results might be available by Saturday afternoon, a returning officer of the election was asked whether the information could be shared with the media. He responded, "There's no need to rush to announce it now; it can be shared in the morning."
Meanwhile, when the ballot counting for the hall council was completed, the results were leaked through social media. This premature release was deemed a violation of the rules. Citing this, along with the teacher's death and other issues, JUCSU Election Commission member Mafruhi Sattar resigned.
Candidates from the Chhatra Shibir-backed panel alleged that he was involved in pro-BNP politics and resigned after failing to implement his 'sinister agenda.'
Endless wait
While the hall council's ballot was a single page, the central council's ballot consisted of three pages. As a result, counting the central council's ballots was expected to take three times longer than counting the hall council's ballots.
Given this, the results are expected to be available by Saturday afternoon at the earliest.
Election Commission Secretary AKM Rashidul Alam stated, "We were prepared to count ballots using OMR machines. But, naturally, counting the votes manually would take more time."
He expressed hope that the results would be announced by night.
"The ballot counting for the central council and the 21 hall councils will be completed by night, and the results will be declared," he told the media.
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