Jahangirnagar: The Somonnito Shikkharthi Jote, a panel backed by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, has achieved a significant victory in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) elections, clinching 20 out of the 25 available posts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the election results were officially declared by Chief Election Commissioner Prof Dr Md Maniruzzaman and Commission Member Secretary AKM Rashidul Alam at the university's Senate Hall around 6:30 pm. Independent candidate Abdur Rasid Zitu, representing the Shotontro Shikkharthi Sommilon panel, was elected as Vice President (VP), while Mazharul Islam from the Shibir-backed panel secured the position of General Secretary (GS). The Joint General Secretary (male) and Joint General Secretary (female) roles were filled by panel candidates Ferdous Al Hasan and Ayesha Siddiqua Meghla, respectively.
The Somonnito Shikkharthi Jote also captured several key secretary roles, including Education and Research Secretary Abu Ubaida Usama, Environment and Nature Conservation Affairs Secretary Md Shafayet Mir, Literature and Publication Secretary Md Jahidul Islam Bappy, and Assistant Cultural Secretary Mohammad Raihan Uddin. Other positions, such as Drama Secretary Md Ruhul Islam, ICT and Library Secretary Md Rashedul Islam Likhon, and Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Affairs Secretary Ariful Islam, were similarly dominated by the panel.
Despite the panel's dominance, independent candidates claimed several important posts. Mohibullah Sheikh Jisan emerged victorious as Cultural Secretary, while Mahmudul Hasan Kiron was elected as Sports Secretary. Ahsab Labib from the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council (BDSC) secured the Social Service and Human Resource Development Affairs Secretary position, with Mohammad Ali Chisty from the same group being elected as an executive member.
The elections, held on September 11, marked a historic return for JUCSU, with polls being conducted for the first time in over 30 years. Voting took place across 21 centers, with 224 booths located in 11 male and 10 female residential halls.
According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout was 67.8 percent, with 8,003 out of 11,805 registered voters casting their ballots.
Jahangirnagar University, which commenced its academic journey on January 12, 1971, first established its JUCSU in 1972. Elections followed in subsequent years, with the 2025 election being the first since 1992, marking the end of a 33-year hiatus.