The Chittagong University Central Students’ Union election commission on Monday published the preliminary list of candidates for the long-awaited polls, with 412 students cleared to contest 28 central union posts and hall positions in the polls scheduled for October 12.
According to the preliminary list released on the CUCSU official web site Monday morning, 23 candidates will vie for the vice-president post, 21 for the general secretary post and 21 for the assistant general secretary post. A total of 80 candidates are in the race for executive member positions.
The list shows multiple contenders for the secretarial posts. Eleven candidates are vying for sports secretary, 12 for assistant sports secretary, 16 for literature, culture and publication secretary, 16 for assistant literature, culture and publication secretary, 18 for office secretary, 13 for assistant office secretary, 12 for female students’ welfare secretary, 11 for assistant female students’ welfare secretary post, 11 for science and information technology secretary, 13 for research and innovation secretary, 20 for social welfare and environment secretary, 17 for health secretary, 17 for liberation war and democratic movement secretary, 16 for career development and international relations secretary, 20 for communication and housing secretary, 14 for assistant communication and housing secretary, 11 for law and human rights secretary and 19 for library and cafeteria secretary.
Election officials said that 19 nomination papers were cancelled due to faulty signatures, inconsistent information and other reasons.
Chief election commissioner professor Monir Uddin said, ‘We have published the preliminary list today [Monday]. 19 candidates were disqualified for errors in their documents. They can appeal to the commission for review. The final list will be released on September 25.’
Meanwhile, the hall union race has seen 22 uncontested candidates, including 21 from the four female halls and one from Shahjalal Hall among the male halls.
CUCSU and hall election commission member secretary Dr AKM Ariful Haque Siddique said, ‘We found no rival candidates against 21 contestants in female halls and one in a male hall. Whether they will be declared elected uncontested will be decided after the publication of the final list on September 25.’
According to the draft list, Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia Hall is the only female hall where elections are likely to be held for all 14 posts, while Nawab Faizunnesa Choudhurani Hall has the highest number of uncontested candidates, with 13 tribal and one Barua student forming a full panel named ‘Hridyatar Bondhon’.
In Bijoy-24 Hall, the post of sports secretary has only one contestant, while in Pritilata Hall, single candidates were found for sports and information technology secretary posts. At Shamsun Nahar Hall, uncontested posts include office secretary, reading room, dining and library secretary, social service, environment and human rights secretary, communication and housing secretary, and three executive members.
Among the male halls, only Shahjalal Hall has a single candidate for the reading room, dining and hall library secretary post.
Student organisations have also begun consolidating their presence in the hall unions.
The Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced full panels in seven of the nine male halls, while the Islami Chhatra Sangstha has fielded a full panel at Pritilata Hall.
According to the final voter list, 27,521 students are eligible to vote.
Chittagong University, established in 1966, has held CUCSU elections only six times: in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1981 and 1990.
