The long-awaited elections to the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and hall unions are being held today (Wednesday) after more than three and a half decades, with nearly 27,000 students casting their votes to elect their representatives.
Voting began at 9:30am and will continue until 4:00pm without interruption. Counting will start soon after polling ends, followed by the announcement of results.
Chief election commissioner Professor Monir Uddin said all preparations were complete to ensure a smooth election. ‘Security has been tightened across the campus. Students can cast their votes freely and return safely. We hope to conduct the entire process—from voting to result announcement—in a peaceful and festive atmosphere,’ he said.
Ballot papers were distributed to all polling centres in the morning under strict security, he added.
Marketing department student Tashnia Toni said, ‘Finally, the long wait is over. We’ve been waiting for this day for years. I came with great enthusiasm to vote for my preferred candidate. It feels wonderful to stand in line with others and cast my vote.’
According to the election commission, a total of 27,521 students—16,084 male and 11,329 female—are eligible to vote. They will elect a 26-member central executive body for one year, along with 14 hall and one hostel unions. Five CUCSU representatives will also serve as members of the university senate.
This year, 908 candidates from 13 panels and several independents are contesting the polls. Of them, 415 are vying for 26 CUCSU posts and 493 for 14 hall union posts. The vice-president position has 24 candidates, the general secretary 22, and the assistant general secretary 21.
Voting is taking place across five faculty buildings—Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Science, and Engineering—where about 700 booths have been set up in 60 rooms.
A special polling centre has been arranged on the second floor of the CUCSU building for visually impaired students, supervised by two election commissioners.
Election officials said students are voting using OMR ballot sheets—four pages for CUCSU posts and one page for hall and hostel union posts. The 15-member election commission, headed by Professor Monir Uddin, is overseeing the process.
Law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, BGB, and APBn, have been deployed across the campus to maintain order. Executive magistrates are stationed at each polling venue to monitor law enforcement activities.
Chittagong University, established in 1966, has previously held CUCSU elections only six times—in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1981, and 1990.
Elections to the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and hall unions are under way today (Wednesday), marking the first such polls in 35 years.
Voting for the seventh CUCSU election runs from 9:00am to 4:00pm, with counting to begin immediately after polls close.
Fourteen LED screens across the campus will display live updates.
Results of the central union will be announced from the Faculty of Business Administration, while hall union results will come from respective centres, according to university authorities.
A total of 27,518 students — 16,189 male and 11,329 female — are eligible to vote.
Altogether 415 candidates are contesting 26 CUCSU posts.
Polling is taking place in 15 centres across five faculties, including Business Administration, Social Sciences, Science, and Arts and Humanities. An additional booth has been set up at the CUCSU building for differently-abled students.
The Election Commission has arranged 700 booths in 60 rooms, each equipped with five ballot boxes and five agents.
Maximum 500 voters are allowed per centre.
Thirteen panels and several independent candidates are contesting the polls.
Twenty-four are vying for vice president (VP), 22 for general secretary (GS), and 21 for assistant general secretary (AGS). Other portfolios include sports, culture, publications, welfare, research and IT.
Each hall and hostel union has 14 posts, with 908 candidates in total.
Each voter will cast up to 40 votes on five ballot papers. Ballot counting will be conducted through the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) system.
To facilitate transportation, 11 shuttle train trips and 30 buses have been arranged for students.
The entire campus has been placed under tight security, with about 1,700 personnel — including police, RAB, APBN, and BGB members — deployed alongside university security staff, Rover Scouts, and BNCC volunteers.
The polls schedule was announced on August 28, followed by the final voter list on September 11. Although initially set for October 12, the election was rescheduled to October 15 following student demands.
Chief Election Commissioner Prof Dr Munir Uddin said voting is being held across five faculties under CCTV surveillance.
Established in 1966, Chittagong University held its first CUCSU election in 1970.
The last election took place on February 8, 1990, when the Shwarba Daliyo Chatra Oikkwo defeated Islami Chhatra Shibir to secure a majority in both CUCSU and hall unions.
Nazim Uddin of Jatiya Chhatra League was elected VP, while Azim Uddin Ahmed of Socialist Students’ Front became GS.
