On the second day of nomination form distribution for the long-awaited Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union, hall union and senate representative elections, only 10 candidates collected forms on Monday, compared with five on the opening day.
So far, 13 candidates have collected nomination papers for seven of the central posts—two for vice-president, one each for assistant sports secretary, cultural secretary and women’s affairs secretary, three for executive member and one for Senate member.
No nominations, however, have yet been taken for 16 other posts.
In addition, six candidates have collected forms for hall union positions.
RUCSU polls chief election commissioner Professor F Nazrul Islam said that some aspirant candidates were delaying due to banking and other reasons, while others were still observing the process before deciding to contest.
He expressed hope that more candidates would come forward on the final day.
Nomination distribution, which began Sunday, will end today.
Elections will be held for 23 out of 25 RUCSU posts, five Senate posts and 15 out of 17 hall union posts.
According to the election schedule, the RUCSU elections are slated for September 15.Â
Forms for central student union and senate elections are available at RUCSU treasurer’s office at Kazi Nazrul Islam auditorium, while hall union nomination forms are being distributed at the respective hall offices.
Meanwhile, the Rajshahi University unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal on Monday staged a demonstration pressing a five-point demand.
They also submitted separate memorandums to the vice-chancellor and the chief election commissioner for the polls.
Their demands include, enrolling freshers and foreign students in the RUCSU voter list, publishing updated photo-based voter lists, relocating polling centres to academic buildings from the residential halls, ensuring coexistence of all student organisations in halls, and holding a fair and inclusive election.
Addressing the rally in front of Martyred Intellectual Memorial, RU unit Chhatra Dal president Sultan Ahmed Rahi alleged that the current university administration was a ‘pro-Pakistan administration’ that was conspiring to sideline Chhatra Dal from the polls.
He also criticised the appointment of the RU Alumni Association’s controversial election commissioner as RUCSU chief election commissioner without having any discussion with the student organisations.
Rahi further said that they did not want any teacher to be insulted or humiliated. ‘The polls will not be acceptable without ensuring voting rights for first-year students, who played an important role in the July movement,’ he added.
Receiving the memorandum, vice-chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Nakib said that they would discuss the issues, while election-related matters would be dealt with by the election commission.
