Rucsu too goes to Shibir

The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Sommilito Shikkharthi Jote has swept the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) election, securing 20 out of 23 central posts in the first such polls held in 35 years.

The panel also dominated the hall and senate elections, marking a near-clean sweep across the university's student representative bodies.

Results were announced around 8:00am yesterday by Chief Election Commissioner Prof F Nazrul Islam at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium, following an overnight vote count that began at 8:30pm Thursday.

Mostakur Rahman Jahid of Sommilito Shikkharthi Jote was elected vice-president with 12,687 votes, defeating Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir of the BNP-backed Oikyaboddho Notun Projonmo panel, who received 3,397 votes.

The only major exception came in the general secretary post, where Salahuddin Ammar of Adhipottobirodhi Oikya secured 11,537 votes, defeating Shibir-backed Fazle Rabbi Md Fahim Reza, who got 5,729 votes. The former Students Against Discrimination coordinator Ammar's victory prevented a clean sweep in the top leadership tier.

In the assistant general secretary (AGS) race, SM Salman Sabbir of the Shibir-backed panel won with 6,971 votes, defeating Zahin Biswas Esha of the BNP-backed panel, who received 5,941 votes.

Another exception came in the sports secretary post, which went to Nargis Khatun of the BNP-backed panel. She secured 7,785 votes, defeating Shibir-backed Hamidullah, who received 5,238 votes -- the only post won by the Chhatra Dal-backed panel.

Independent candidate Tufayel Ahmed Tufa won the science and technology secretary post with 6,780 votes, narrowly beating Shibir-backed Md Hasan Howlader, who received 6,753 votes.

The Shibir-backed panel secured the remaining secretary and executive member positions, including those related to cultural, women's, information, media, debate, environment, and social welfare affairs.

Among the elected candidates are Abu Sayeed Muhammad Noon, Zayed Hasan Joha, Md Rakibul Islam, Saiyida Hafsa, Samia Jahan, BM Najmus Sakib, Sifat Abu Saleh, Md Mujahidul Islam, Asadullah, Mujahidul Islam Saim, Imran Laskar, Md Nayon Hossain, Abdullah Al Masud, and Masuma Israt Mumu.

All four executive member posts were also won by the Shibir-backed panel -- Md Dip Mahbub, Md Imjiaul Haque Kamali, Sujan Chandra, and ABM Khaled.

At the hall level, the panel swept all VP, GS, and AGS posts in six women's halls and 11 men's halls.

In the senate polls, the Shibir-backed panel won three of the five student representative seats. Mostakur Rahman Jahid, Fazle Rabbi Md Fahim Reza, and SM Salman Sabbir were elected, while Salahuddin Ammar and independent candidate Akil Bin Taleb claimed the remaining two seats.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof Nazrul Islam said the election was held peacefully and without major incidents, with a voter turnout of 69.83 percent among 28,901 registered students. Of them, 17,596 were male and 11,305 female.

According to the Election Commission, 247 candidates contested for 23 Rucsu posts under 10 panels, while 597 vied for 15 hall union positions in 17 halls, and 58 ran for five student representative posts in the university senate.

RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib, in a Facebook post, urged elected representatives to avoid politicising the platform.

"Holding office is not a privilege but a trust. They must work for all students, regardless of political affiliation," he wrote.

Newly elected VP Jahid and GS Ammar pledged to uphold the students' mandate with integrity and dedication. "We will work according to the students' mandate. I hope those who could not win will extend their full cooperation," Jahid said at a post-result press conference.

Ammar said, "My mandate is from the students. I will never go beyond that mandate. If I can fulfil my responsibilities properly, I will proudly say I have served this role with honour."

Following the announcement of results, the auditorium area erupted in celebration. Supporters were seen chanting slogans including "Nomani's blood will not go in vain," "Justice for Shahbagh killers," "Inqilab Zindabad," "Ward quota no more," and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Voting took place from 9:00am to 4:00pm across 17 centres in nine buildings on Thursday. The daylong polling was largely peaceful, though marked by allegations and counter-allegations among rival panels, including complaints over ballot handling, voter queues, and polling agent interference.