Two panels contesting the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union elections on Saturday alleged that the election commission’s weakness and bias were standing in the way of holding the polls fairly.
The allegations were raised at a joint press conference organised on the campus about noon on the day by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-supported panel and the RUCSU for Radical Change panel, a coalition of Chhatra Adhikar Parishad and Bangladesh Chhatra Federation.Â
At the press conference, JCD-supported panel’s vice-president candidate Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir said that the commission’s shortcomings had become visible since the announcement of the election schedule, pushing the election process towards uncertainty and causing to raise questions over its neutrality.
He alleged that Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, in clear violation of the electoral code of conduct, had been trying to influence students in residential halls by distributing attar, installing water tanks and filters, and hosting meal and snacks parties, among other handouts.
Abir alleged that they had verbally lodged repeated complaints to the commission, but it took no notice of the violations.
‘If this continues, holding of the long-awaited RUCSU election in a fair and impartial manner would not be possible,’ he warned.
Abir also alleged that in the allocation of ballot numbers, additional advantages had been given to Islami Chhatra Shibir in the residential halls, which he described as clearly biased behaviour.
‘We strongly condemn such irregularities and demanding immediate corrective measures,’ he added.
Hasan Maruf, vice-president candidate from the RUCSU for Radical Change panel, read out a twelve-point demand aiming to hold a fair and credible election.
Their twelve demands include use of transparent ballot boxes, showing empty boxes to candidates’ agents and journalists before voting begins, use of quality indelible ink, publication of a voter list with photographs within one day, counting votes manually, putting limits on campaign expenditure and posters, printing and numbering of ballot papers in presence of candidate agents, ensuring an adequate number of polling booths, real-time display of voter lists on digital boards, establishing a cell against cyber bullying, and preventing proxy voting strictly.
Other candidates present at the press conference included JCD-supported panel’s general secretary candidate Nafiul Jibon, and assistant general secretary candidate Jahin Biswas Esha, and RUCSU for Radical Change panel’s general secretary candidate Afrin Jahan and assistant general secretary candidate Al Shahriar Shuvo.
Contacted, RUCSU elections chief election commissioner Professor F Nazrul Islam denied the allegations.
‘None has lodged any written complaint about violation of the electoral code of conduct to the commission. A hall provost informed me in the morning that Chhatra Shibir activists installed a water filter in the hall. I then directed the hall provost to remove it immediately,’ he said.
Meanwhile, 13 candidates, including two vice-president candidates and one general secretary candidate withdrew their nominations RUCSU polls on Saturday, the last date for withdrawal, according to election officials.
Besides, three candidates also quitted from the race for senate student representatives, said Professor F Nazrul Islam.
He said that they would publish the final list of candidates today.
Earlier, total 260 students under nine panels submitted nomination papers against 23 posts at RUCSU with 19 of them for the vice-president post, 14 for general secretary post, and 16 for assistant general secretary post.
Besides, total 60 candidates submitted nomination papers for five posts of senate representatives in the elections, slated for September 25.
