Chaos, Delays, and Tragedy Mar Jahangirnagar University Student Union Election

More than 24 hours after voting closed in the long-awaited Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) election, authorities were still struggling to finish counting ballots—fueling anger, suspicion, and tension across campus.

The historic election, held after 33 years, had raised hopes of reviving the long-dormant student body. But delays, administrative turmoil, and the sudden death of a young teacher on election duty cast a heavy shadow over the process.

By Friday night, what began with excitement had turned into frustration. The commission initially promised results by Friday morning, then pushed the deadline to noon, and later to night. At 8:20pm, officials announced counting would continue overnight.

As of 10:00pm, results for 21 hall unions were ready, but counting for the central body was only beginning. “The process might take the whole night,” Chief Election Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman told reporters, adding that election staff had been ordered not to release partial results before the official announcement.

Manual Counting Woes

Officials admitted that the process slowed dramatically after candidates demanded abandoning OMR machines in favor of manual counting. Proctor and commission secretary AKM Rashidul Alam said they had been prepared for machine-based tallying, but were forced to improvise with little training in manual methods.

The commission doubled the number of counting tables from five to 10 and added CCTV cameras, but results remained elusive. Alam also noted that late voting in some halls delayed ballot box delivery until 9:30pm on Thursday. Missing polling agents worsened the slowdown.

Resignation and Allegations

The credibility of the polls took another blow when Prof Mafruhi Sattar, one of the five election commissioners, resigned, citing failures to curb irregularities. Earlier, three pro-BNP teachers monitoring the election had also stepped down.

“I could not resolve the allegations of rigging and mismanagement,” Prof Sattar admitted. His statement echoed claims from the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Shikkhok Forum, which dismissed the election as a “farce” designed to ensure victory for a particular group.

On the other hand, the Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported Oikya Forum dismissed Sattar’s move as political theatre and rejected accusations of irregularities.

Teacher’s Death

Tragedy deepened the crisis when Jannatul Ferdous Moumita, a 32-year-old fine arts lecturer serving as a polling officer, collapsed at Pritilata Hall and later died at a hospital in Savar. Returning officer Prof Sultana Akter accused the administration of poor planning that overburdened staff, contributing to the loss.

Students’ Frustration

Students voiced growing discontent. “If the process is transparent, why is it taking so long to count just 11,000 votes?” asked Shazid Sikder Shawon, a public administration student.

Different panels, including the Shibir-backed Oikya Forum and Swatantra Shikkharthi Sammilon, staged demonstrations demanding results. Candidates compared the delay with Dhaka University’s Ducsu polls, where nearly 40,000 votes were counted within hours.

Meanwhile, Shibir’s Dhaka metropolitan (east) unit staged a protest march in Dhaka, ending at the Jatiya Press Club, denouncing the delay at Jahangirnagar.

What began as a landmark election intended to restore student representation has instead left the campus in shock, mourning, and uncertainty.