Dhaka: Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Sadik Kayem announced on Tuesday that the Election Commission (EC) has expressed a positive attitude towards holding the student council elections at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) and Begum Rokeya University (BRUR).
According to United News of Bangladesh, Sadik Kayem revealed this shift in the Commission’s stance following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban. This development emerged shortly after the Commission issued a directive to suspend all organisational elections ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum set for February 12, 2026.
During a press briefing, Sadik Kayem stated that the Election Commission assured them of taking necessary actions to ensure the student council elections proceed as planned. He highlighted that the EC’s directive initially aimed to halt all organisational elections until February 12 had prompted discussions with university authorities and the government.
The SUST student council election is slated for January 20, which falls three weeks before the national parliamentary election. Kayem argued that halting the student council election on security grounds so close to the national polls is not a reasonable decision and is unlikely to be accepted by the student community. The Begum Rokeya University student council election is similarly scheduled for January 21.
Previously, the Election Commission had instructed authorities to refrain from conducting elections for any organisation or association, including professional bodies, ahead of the parliamentary election and referendum. This directive, communicated through a letter to returning officers, emphasized that it applied to elections across various professional and social groups, including educational institutions, transport associations, and trade unions, to maintain an uninfluenced election and referendum process.