After a 33-year gap, the much-anticipated Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall union polls were held today. Polling closed at 5:00pm on Thursday after an eventful day, and the results are yet to be announced as of Friday evening.
Developing News
BNP-aligned teachers demand resolution of complaints, JUCSU re-election
BNP-aligned teachers demanded a proper resolution of the irregularities and JUCSU re-election.
They issued a statement in this regard on Friday night.
They believe that the night before the JUCSU election, ‘misleading information’ was deliberately spread against Chhatra Dal, the statement added.
EC resigns as he could not implement conspiracy: Combined Students' Alliance
Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Combined Students’ Alliance alleged that EC Mafruhi Sattar resigned because he could not implement the conspiracy planned around the election.
They made the allegation at a press conference around 9:45pm on Friday .
EC Mafruhi resigns during vote counting
Election Commissioner Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar resigned from his responsibilities at JUCSU elections.
He revealed the matter to the journalists.
Mafruhi said that since he spoke out against irregularities and errors related to the election, various attempts have been made to put him under pressure.
Number of polling officers increased to speed up ballot counting
Amid delays in announcing the JUCSU election results, the number of polling officers has been increased for ballot counting.
JUCSU Chief Election Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman revealed this information on Friday night. He also said the results will be announced within the night.
Shibir-backed panel sees conspiracy behind delay in announcing results
Shibir-backed general secretary candidate Majharul Islam said the delay in announcing results was indicative of a conspiracy.
The polls closed at 5:00pm on Thursday, and although the election commission said on the day that ballots would be counted through the night, the results are yet to be announced, more than 26 hours after polling closed.
Majharul made the remark at a press conference around 5:00pm on Friday.
Votes of 21 halls tallied, counting of JUCSU ballots starts
Counting of votes cast for the 21 halls of Jahangirnagar University has been counted, and tallying of JUCSU ballots has started, said professor Mizanur Rahman of the archaeology department.
The election commission held a meeting and discussed the state of vote counting and when results could be announced. Prof Mizanur was part of the meeting, reports a correspondent from JU.
Results likely by tonight
JUCSU Election Commission Member Secretary and Proctor A.K.M. Rashidul Islam told Stream that the results of the JUCSU polls are likely to be announced by tonight.
Regarding the slow pace of vote counting, he said, “Due to objections from the students, the digital counting method was abandoned, and the counting is being done manually. That is why it is taking more time.”
In response to a question about whether there is any lack of coordination within the Election Commission, he said, “We are performing our duties as a team. Everyone is fulfilling their responsibilities.”
Regarding the reaction of Election Commissioner Mafruhi Sattar about flaws and mismanagement in the election process, Rashidul Islam said, “He is our esteemed member. He has expressed his personal opinion, which does not affect our work in any way.”
Body of teacher who died during vote counting brought to campus
Sorrow gripped Jahangirnagar University as the body of Jannatul Ferdous, a teacher who died while on duty during the JUCSU election, was brought to campus around 1:00pm.
Jannatul Ferdous collapsed during vote counting in the morning and was rushed to Enam Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead around 9:00am. Her sudden death cast a pall of grief over the election.
Results likely by evening
The vote counting in the JUCSU election is still underway, nearly 14 hours after it began.
Due to the manual counting process, the pace has been notably slow, delaying the announcement.
Counting began on Thursday night, and as of now, votes from 19 halls have been counted, with three halls remaining.
The central JUCSU vote counting will begin afterwards.
Election officials said results are expected by the evening, following a one-hour break for Friday prayers and the janaza of recently deceased teacher Jannatul Ferdous.
JUCSU EC calls election ‘abnormal’ amid early result leak on Facebook
Mafruhi Sattar, the election commissioner of JUCSU, described the election process as "abnormal," expressing concern over the premature publication of results on social media.
Expressing frustration, he told Stream on Friday, "What is the role of our election commission? Who is performing the commission's duties? Who is publishing results on social media, including Facebook, before the vote count is completed?
"Personally, I find the entire situation abnormal. The whole election process has been called into question," he added.
Recalling reports of a teacher dying while performing election duties, he noted that such incidents could have occurred under the current chaotic conditions.
Citing the election commission secretary, he said that about 50% of the vote counting is complete, and the final results are expected to be announced later in the afternoon
JU teacher dies while on JUCSU poll duty
Jannatul Ferdous, a teacher at Jahangirnagar University, collapsed and died Friday morning while performing her duties during the JUCSU and hall union elections. The namaz-e-janaza is scheduled to be held on Friday after Jumma prayers in front of the university's central mosque.
She was serving as a polling officer for the JUCSU and Preetilata Hall Union elections. She was a lecturer in the Fine Arts Department of Jahangirnagar University.
Around 8:30 am, after reaching the third floor of the Election Commission building, Jannatul Ferdous suddenly lost consciousness in the corridor in front of her colleagues. Her coworkers immediately carried her down on a stretcher.
Shamim Reza, head of the Fine Arts Department and associate professor, told reporters that after the voting concluded yesterday evening around 6 pm, Jannatul Ferdous returned home. She came back to the Senate building in the morning for vote counting and collapsed in front of the counting room on the third floor.
She was rushed to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar by ambulance for emergency treatment, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Dr Shaon Hossain of Enam Medical College Hospital said, "Jannatul Ferdous was brought to the hospital at 9:00am, and at 9:04am, she was pronounced dead in the emergency department."
Ballot counting underway, results expected by noon
Jahangirnagar University's much-anticipated JUCSU and hall union election ballot count is underway, with results expected to be announced around noon on Friday.
According to the university's Public Relations Office, as of 7:00am, ballot counting had been completed for 10 residential halls.
The process for the remaining 11 halls is still ongoing, after which the ballots for the central union will be tallied.
Around 6:30am, Ahmed Suman, acting director of Public Relations, told Stream, "I was present during the counting. Votes are being counted at two tables. At one stage, counting was briefly halted as several hall candidates' polling agents were absent. However, vote counting is underway for those halls where the hall candidates' agents were present."
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.
At around 2:45am, Election Commission Member Professor K Lutful Elahi told reporters, "Currently, only hall union votes are being counted. The central count will begin once these are done. At this pace, it may not be completed before Friday prayers."
He added that teachers and staff who oversaw the polls throughout the day were now engaged in counting, which had slowed down the process.
The first ballot boxes to be opened were from Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall and Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall.
Out of nearly 12,000 students enrolled at the university, around 8,000 exercised their right to vote. While polling concluded without major disturbances, enthusiasm was dampened when the Chhatra Dal-backed panel and four others announced their boycott of the election.
JUCSU polls: Voting ends, wait for results begins
The voting for Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections concluded around 5:00pm amid a day full of tension and incidents. Now the wait for the results begins.
The voting began at 9:00am in the morning.
According to the university's election commission, a total of 11,743 students are eligible to vote, including 5,728 female and 6,015 male students.
A total of 177 candidates are contesting for 25 central JUCSU posts, while 477 candidates are running for 315 positions in the hall unions.
In total, nine candidates are running for the VP post, followed by eight for the GS position. Six are vying for the female Joint Secretary post, while 10 are competing for the male position.
The election process is being facilitated by 21 returning officers, 67 polling officers, and 67 assistant polling officers. Voting booths have been set up across 224 polling stations within the 21 residential halls of the university.
Earlier, the JUCSU Chief Election Commissioner said that the vote counting may take longer than in DUCSU polls.
The number of voters for the JUCSU polls may be lower than the number in the DUCSU polls held on Tuesday, but counting the ballots may take even longer.
JUCSU Chief Election Commissioner Professor Mafruhi Sattar told Stream that since a decision was made to count the votes manually, the process will take more time.
Although ballot counting in the DUCSU polls was supposed to be completed by the end of Tuesday, the final results were announced on Wednesday morning.
JUSCU polls: Three BNP-aligned teachers resign from election duties, citing vote rigging
Three BNP-affiliated teachers resigned from their election duties in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) elections, citing allegations of vote rigging.
The teachers are: Professor Nazrul Islam, Professor Shamima Sultana, and Nahrin Islam Khan.
Among them, Nazrul Islam was responsible for monitoring the JUCSU election centrally, while the other two supervised at the hall level.
They also boycotted the voting process, saying that several other teachers would make similar declarations.
Chhatra Dal-backed panel boycotts JUCSU polls
Chhatra Dal-backed panel “Sammilito Chhatra Oikya” announced that it has boycotted the JUCSU polls, alleging vote rigging and irregularities.
“The election is neither fair nor free. Therefore, we are compelled to boycott the election. The true voice of the students is not being reflected,” said Tanjila Hossain Boishakhi, the panel’s GS candidate, at a press conference at Maulana Bhasani Hall around 3:45pm.
“We were not allowed to enter Tajuddin Hall. The voters’ photos were missing from the list. Mob was created at Hall No 21, and an independent candidate was physically assaulted in Jahanara Imam Hall, ” she said, adding that the election had lost its neutrality.
Meanwhile, Boishakhi also criticised the use of OMR machines procured from a Jamaat-e-Islami-linked organisation, which the panel had refused to accept.
“The students at female halls voted multiple times, and Shibir-linked journalists misbehaved with Chhatra Dal candidates,” she added.
Chhatra Dal leader released after signing bond
Hafizur Rahman Sohan, the central Chhatra Dal vice president, was released after signing a bond to the university proctor’s office.
AKM Rashidul Alam, the secretary of the JUCSU Election Commission and university proctor, confirmed this information.
Earlier, Sohan faced allegations of illegally entering the Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall during the ongoing JUCSU election.
No bias in ballot paper procurement: JUCSU chief election commissioner
Maniruzzaman, the chief election commissioner of JUCSU, denied any allegations of bias in the procurement of ballot papers and vote-counting machines for the election.
Speaking to the media at Maulana Bhashani Hall on Thursday afternoon, he rejected claims that the materials were procured from a Jamaat-linked organisation to favour a particular panel.
Earlier, Sheikh Sadi Hasan, the vice president candidate of the Chhatra Dal-backed panel, held a press conference accusing the authorities of bypassing proper procedures in procuring ballot papers and OMR vote-counting machines from an “unpopular” organisation linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, to ensure the victory of the Shibir-backed panel.
Responding to these allegations, the chief election commissioner said, “No work was awarded to Jamaat or any preferred party. We reviewed five organisations and shortlisted a few after thorough verification. I’m not an expert on technical matters, I’m a professor of English literature,” he said.
He further mentioned that if any defects were found in the ballot papers during scrutiny, those could be cancelled.
“Everyone is satisfied with the election arrangements,” the election commissioner added.
Voting suspended at centre in female dorm, chaos erupts over male students’ entry
After allegations of vote rigging, voting was suspended around 11:45am at the polling centre set up in the university’s 15th female dormitory (formerly Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall).
After receiving the news, Chhatra Dal-backed panel’s VP candidate, Sheikh Sadi Hasan, and GS candidate, along with 5–7 activists, entered the hall, alleging that voting was suspended due to vote rigging.
When they reached the polling centre on the hall’s second floor, the door was shut in front of them.
In protest, the female students of the hall began chanting the slogan, “Why are male students inside the hall?”
A verbal altercation then broke out between hall staff and Chhatra Dal activists. Eventually, the female students forced the Chhatra Dal leaders and activists to leave the hall.
Hall residents alleged that BNP-leaning university Professor Nazrul Islam of the Mathematics Department brought the Chhatra Dal leaders to the hall.
Among the JCD activists was Jisan, a student of the 48th batch of the Bangla Department and a resident of AFM Kamaluddin Hall. He was accused of pushing the hall staff.
Journalists who arrived at the scene also alleged that Jisan behaved rudely with them.
Farhana Binte Jigar Farina, BAGCHAS-backed panel Shikkharthi Oikya Forum’s candidate for Education and Research Secretary in JUCSU, who was present at the scene, told Stream, “Voting was suspended here. So why did Chhatra Dal leaders suddenly enter the hall? This is a female hall — there are privacy concerns. They entered a group and created panic. Allegations of vote rigging against Shibir are being made — allegations may arise. I’m from another panel myself, but that doesn’t mean I’ll enter a girls’ hall with boys.”
However, Hall Provost Shamima Nasrin Jolly denied any vote rigging at the hall. She explained that voting was temporarily suspended because the indelible ink on voters’ fingers was wiped off, and the suspension lasted until new ink was provided.
Ballot papers supplied by Jamaat-linked org being used: Chhatra Dal-backed candidate
Sheikh Sadi Hasan, the VP candidate from the Chhatra Dal-backed panel, accused the university administration of using ballot papers supplied by an organisation affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Speaking at a press conference at Maulana Bhasani Hall around 12:30pm, Sadi claimed that ballot papers and vote-counting OMR machines were initially purchased from an "unpopular" Jamaat-linked organisation to favour the Shibir-backed panel.
After public criticism, the administration then ruled out the OMR machines and switched to manual counting, but the ballot papers from the same source are still being used, Sadi said.
He also alleged that Shibir activists obtained additional ballot papers from the same organisation to rig the election.
Concern was raised at the press conference over Shibir supporters gathering around the campus, fearing that such intimidation could discourage non-residential students from voting.
Voting at a polling centre suspended since noon amid ballot paper drama
Voting at Female Hall 15 centre of Jahangirnagar University was suspended for an hour after Chhatra Dal-backed GS candidate Tanjila Hossain Boishakhi was seen holding a ballot paper in front of the centre.
Polling was yet to resume as of 2:00pm.
Addressing journalists about the controversy, Boishakhi said, “After I arrived here, a girl and a journalist came to me and handed me a folded ballot paper. Then the journalist started a live broadcast. He told me that I brought the ballot paper from inside, as Shibir might win. That clearly shows whose agenda was being served.”
Boishakhi also insisted that she had not even entered the polling centre at the time of the incident.
When questioned about the distribution of campaign leaflets of the Chhatra Dal-backed panel within 100 meters of the polling centre, she said, “I’m not aware of that.”
Central Chhatra Dal leader detained from JU hall
The Jahangirnagar University authority on Thursday morning detained a central Chatra Dal leader for allegedly staying illegally on campus during the ongoing JUCSU polls.
Hafizur Rahman Sohan is the central vice-president of Chhatra Dal and a former student of the university.
He was found staying illegally in Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall during the voting period.
When asked about the incident, Safiqul Islam, the hall provost, said, “Around 11:00am today, we received information that a Chhatra Dal member was staying in the hall [Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall]. Just after receiving the news, I went there, detained him, and handed him over to the proctor. He is now in the proctor’s office."
He further added that such actions could be punishable under the electoral code of conduct.
“Now the proctor’s office and the chief election commissioner will take the necessary steps. As the hall provost, I took the necessary action.”
Chhatra Dal-backed GS candidate alleges ballot stuffing
Tanzina Hossain Boishakhi, the general secretary candidate from the Chhatra Dal-backed panel, said her panel received reports of ballot-stuffing taking place inside the Fazilatunnesa Hall polling centre.
She also said she was barred from entering the centre.
Claiming that candidates from their panel were being barred from entering multiple polling centres, she said, “People linked with Shibir are not allowing us to enter the centres. We’ve received information that fake votes are being cast inside, and there are no polling agents [from all candidates], only those representing a specific panel.”
Voting starts late in at least 5 centres
Voting for the JUCSU election was scheduled to begin at 9:00am, but in at least five polling centres, it started late.
Voting began 45 minutes late at Fazilatunnesa Hall and 35 minutes late at Mir Mosharraf Hall.
It started 20 minutes late at Maulana Bhashani Hall, 16 minutes late at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, and 15 minutes late at Male Student Hall 10.
Asked about the reason for the delay, Maulana Bhashani Hall's Returning Officer Kazi Mohammad Mohsin told Stream that this was their first experience organising an election on this scale, that’s why it took some extra time to ensure everything started in accordance with the rules and regulations.
Voters not being marked with indelible ink, some candidates allege
Allegations have emerged regarding the failure to apply indelible ink to voters after they cast their ballots in the ongoing JUCSU polls. The absence of this key anti-fraud measure has raised concerns about the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
Voters’ hands or fingers are marked with indelible ink as part of preventive measures to ensure that no one is able to vote more than once.
Speaking to Stream, BAGCHAS-backed Shikkharthi Oikya Forum’s general secretasry candidate Abu Tawhid Siam said, “Many voters are not being marked with indelible ink after casting their votes. In addition, some candidates are distributing campaign flyers in front of polling centres, which is a clear violation of election rules.”
Siam informed that he contacted Professor Mafruhi Sattar at the central election office around 10:00am to raise the issue formally.
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall AGS candidate Al Amin echoed the concern, saying, “In our hall, no voter’s finger is being marked. Ballot papers are being issued just after taking a signature.”
In response to these allegations, Ujjal Kumar Mondol, the polling officer at Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, acknowledged the issue.
“We were not supplied with markers by the central election commission office,” he stated.
Meanwhile, at Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall, voters were being marked with black marker pens. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, the hall’s chief returning officer, said, “We received markers from the election commission office and are using them accordingly.”
Vote counting may take longer than in DUCSU polls: JUCSU CEC
The number of voters for the JUCSU polls may be lower than the number in the DUCSU polls held on Tuesday, but counting the ballots may take even longer.
JUCSU Chief Election Commissioner Professor Mafruhi Sattar told Stream that since a decision was made to count the votes manually, the process will take more time.
Following objections raised by candidates, the decision to use the optical mark recognition (OMR) method for counting was scrapped. As a result, the counting may continue throughout the night.
Although ballot counting in the DUCSU polls was supposed to be completed by the end of Tuesday, the final results were announced on Wednesday morning.
Shibir-backed VP candidate points to two irregularities
Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed United Students’ Alliance's vice-president candidate Arifullah Adib alleged irregularities in two aspects of the polling process.
He told journalists that the university administration on Wednesday said no former student or outsider would be allowed to remain on campus from 6:00pm onwards. But, he said, "leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, whose studentship has already expired, are roaming around the campus" even after voting started on Thursday morning.
Highlighting the second aspect, he said, “In Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall, at least 150 more ballots have been found than the total number of registered voters. The fact that there are more ballots than voters is a cause for concern.”
Tight security across campus
To ensure a peaceful voting environment, authorities have deployed eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 5 Ansar teams, 1,600 police personnel, and 200 members of the Detective Branch (DB) of police.
In addition, members of the Army, BGB, and RAB are also on standby as part of the striking force, ready to respond to any untoward incident.
33 years later, voting begins at Jahangirnagar University
Voting began at 9:00am and will continue until 5:00pm.
According to the university's election commission, a total of 11,743 students are eligible to vote, including 5,728 female and 6,015 male students.
A total of 177 candidates are contesting for 25 central JUCSU posts, while 477 candidates are running for 315 positions in the hall unions.
In total, nine candidates are running for the VP post, followed by eight for the GS position. Six are vying for the female Joint Secretary post, while 10 are competing for the male position.
The election process is being facilitated by 21 returning officers, 67 polling officers, and 67 assistant polling officers. Voting booths have been set up across 224 polling stations within the 21 residential halls of the university.
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