Allegations Overshadow JACSUS Election, Result Announcement Shrouded in ‘Uncertainty’

“I stood in line for 20 minutes to cast my vote, only to find someone else had already done it on my behalf. I never imagined my very first vote in life would be wasted this way.”
This was the complaint of a voter at the Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall polling centre during the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JACSUS) and hall union elections held on Thursday, 11 September. Upon review of CCTV footage, the allegation proved to be true.

Reports of ballot tampering, proxy voting, torn ballots, and bias by the Election Commission marred the entire electoral process. Although polling was scheduled to end at 5:00 pm, ballot boxes from Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall did not reach the Election Commission office at the Senate Hall until 8:00 pm. Counting began afterwards but, according to Professor A.K.M. Rashidul Alam, Member Secretary of the Election Commission, the final results might not be available until Friday morning. His remarks drew widespread criticism.

The first official boycott came in the afternoon when Tanazila Hossain Boishakhi, the General Secretary (GS) candidate supported by Chhatra Dal, announced withdrawal, claiming the election was staged. She alleged:

• The Tajuddin Hall voters’ list lacked photographs, halting polling for two hours.
• Mobs were mobilised in the 21st Hall and Jahanara Imam Hall.
• Proxy voting took place repeatedly in female halls, with the same student casting multiple votes under different IDs while the administration ignored it.

Following Chhatra Dal, four more progressive student panels withdrew:

• Shompritir Oikya (Unity of Harmony)
• Songshoptok Parishad (Resolute Council)
• Swadhin Aongikar Parishad (Independent Commitment Council)
• Partial Panel of Socialist Student Front

At 6:45 pm on Thursday, they held a press conference at the University Transport Square. Shoron Ehsan, the GS candidate from Shompritir Oikya, read out the joint statement of withdrawal. Several independent candidates also expressed solidarity.

Faria Zaman Niki, Joint General Secretary candidate from Shompritir Oikya, said: “We possess clear evidence of rigging. The irregularities are so extensive that even a press conference could not cover them all. Agents were barred from entering centres, ballots were cast on behalf of others, and polling was suspended in several halls. Even Shibir and BAGCHAS declared their mistrust in the Commission earlier. Taken together, it is evident that the Commission has acted with bias, running an election driven by money.”

Echoing similar allegations, Shoron Ehsan added: “From ballot box chaos to last-minute announcements at 2 am about polling agents, independent candidates were left unprepared. Agents were obstructed, male candidates entered female halls, voter lists lacked photos, indelible ink was not used, and many registered voters found their names missing. These irregularities reflect nothing but the incompetence, partiality, and negligence of the Commission and the administration.”

Adding further weight, three members of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum also boycotted the election. At a press briefing outside the Commission office, Professor Nahreen Islam Khan said: “The administration acted irresponsibly from the very beginning, engineering irregularities. As responsible teachers, we cannot endorse such a flawed election. Out of protest, we reject it.”

When questioned, Professor Lutfar Elahi, a member of the Election Commission, said: “I am still stationed at a hall and do not know who has boycotted.”

Upon hearing the names of the boycotting panels, he responded: “That is their organisational decision. Voting was conducted fairly, and we maintained maximum neutrality.”

Voter and Candidate Statistics

The mounting allegations, widespread boycotts, and delays in result announcements have left the JACSUS election mired in uncertainty and controversy, casting doubt over the credibility of the process.