Rajshahi: A total of 903 candidates are set to contest in the upcoming elections for the Rajshahi University Central Students Union (RUCSU), Hall Councils, and Student Representatives to the Senate. Chief Returning Officer Prof Setaur Rahman announced that 248 candidates will vie for positions in the RUCSU, 597 in the Hall Councils, and 58 for the Senate elections.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the RUCSU election will see 18 candidates competing for the Vice-president (VP) position, 13 for General Secretary (GS), and 16 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). In the 17 hall council polls, there are 61 candidates for VP, 58 for GS, and 57 for AGS. Specifically, in the six female halls, 16 candidates are running for VP, 16 for GS, and 15 for AGS. Candidates received their ballot numbers through a lottery held on Sunday.
The RUCSU election will involve 28,905 students, comprising 17,600 from 11 male dormitories and 11,305 from six female dormitories, who will cast their votes. Eleven panels have been announced for the elections, with support coming from political parties and independent groups. These panels include the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Sammilita Shikkharthi Jote, each fielding a 23-member panel.
The panels participating in the election are JCD, Sammilita Shikkharthi Jote, Sarbajanin Shikkharthi Sangsad, Shikkharthi Sangsad, Adhipatyabirodhi Oikya, Gonotantrik Shikkharthi Parishad, RUCSU for Radical Change, Sachetan Shikkharthi Sangsad, Aprotirodhya-24, Swatantra Shikkharthi Jote, Independent Student Alliance, and United for Rights. Each panel has nominated candidates for the key positions of VP, GS, and AGS, with notable names such as Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir, Nafiul Jibon, and Jahin Biswash Esha from the JCD panel.
This election signifies a historic return to student representation at Rajshahi University after a 35-year gap. The voting will take place on September 25 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the university’s academic buildings. Preparations are in full swing, generating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere on campus.