Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad-backed Shikkharthi Oikya Forum on Thursday alleged irregularities in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union election, raising concerns over compliance with the electoral code of conduct.
Touhid Md Siam, the panel’s general secretary candidate, accused rival groups of misconduct.
‘Shibir activists are distributing leaflets outside polling centres, which is a clear violation of the electoral code,’ he told reporters.
He further alleged that ‘despite restrictions on the entry of outsiders into women’s halls, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed vice-president candidate managed to enter a polling centre.’
Voting at Tajuddin Ahmed Hall was temporarily suspended late in the morning following disputes over index and identity cards.
Polling had begun earlier in the day at 9:00am, but for nearly 90 minutes ballots were cast without verification of the cards, as the voter list lacked images, election officials confirmed.
Touhid Md Siam alleged that non-students voted at the centre using the ID cards of students who were currently unavailable.
Allegations also surfaced that names of master’s students were missing from the voter list, and some students were able to vote despite mismatched names or absent photos.
Professor Lutful Elahi, provost of Tajuddin Ahmed Hall, said 143 ballots already cast would be scrutinised in the presence of journalists.
‘We will publish the list of these voters, and if any irregularities are found, those votes will be annulled,’ he added.