Repeated Schedule Changes in RU Central Student Union Election, Student Party Gains Advantage

The repeated changes in the schedule for the Rajshahi University (RU) Central Student Union (RACSU), Hall Union, and Senate student representative elections have caused unrest on campus. The Election Commission has already revised the schedule four times and postponed the voting date twice, creating doubts among general students about the fairness of the elections.

The Election Commission has been changing decisions repeatedly to accommodate the demands of various student organizations and to ensure broad student participation. In this process, the student party has benefited. Other student organizations had prepared adequately for the elections, while the student party was less prepared.

Professor F. Nazrul Islam, head of the Election Commission, stated that the inclusion of photos in the voter list, relocation of polling centers to academic buildings, and fulfillment of other demands required additional time. As a result, the voting date was postponed to September 28.

Sardar Zahurul Islam, General Secretary of the student party, told Prothom Alo, “We requested extra time to ensure a fair and participatory election. None of our demands were met. The university administration and Election Commission are implementing the agenda of one party. The postponement has clearly benefited our party.”

The repeated schedule changes have created an environment of protest and criticism among student organizations on campus. Independent candidates have been preparing for the elections and have already started campaigning, while the student party has yet to begin its campaign. Yesterday, they collected nomination papers for 28 positions.

According to university sources, the repeated schedule changes were necessary to fulfill the demands of various student organizations and independent candidates, which has conveniently benefited the less-prepared student party.