Rucsu polls: Deadline for nomination paper collection extended

The Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) election is set to be delayed as the deadline for collecting nomination forms has been extended till August 31. The last day was yesterday.

It means that the polls will not be held on September 15 as announced earlier.

The decision has sparked fresh protests on campus. Students gathered yesterday evening and marched through several streets, demanding that the polls be held as per the schedule.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof F Nazrul Islam said the extension to nomination collection deadline was required because he has taken charge recently, and it takes more time to complete dope tests of candidates and meet various demands of students.

He added that a new date for voting would be announced later.

In the first three days, 168 students collected nominations for 23 central posts. Seven applied for vice-president, five for general secretary, and seven for assistant general secretary. Nineteen students submitted nominations for five Senate seats. At the hall level, 363 forms were collected for union posts.

Prof Nazrul also announced that polling centres will be shifted from residential halls to academic buildings. A cyber cell will be set up to monitor activities. Photos will be attached to the voter list. First-year students, admitted after the election schedule was announced, will not be eligible to vote.

Salahuddin Ammar, a former coordinator of RU unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), told The Daily Star that the administration's explanation was not convincing. He said the election had already been rescheduled three times and it seemed that the authorities were working to benefit one group.

Shah Poran Likhon, a candidate for assistant general secretary, said past governments had delayed elections to favour certain organisations, and the same thing was happening now.

Mostakur Rahman Zahid, vice-president candidate and Islami Chhatra Shibir's Rucsu unit president, called the decision irrational.

Former SAD coordinator Tasin Khan warned that students would announce tougher programmes if the authorities failed to ensure transparency.

Rucsu CEC Prof Nazrul denied the allegation of making decisions to favour anyone. "These steps are only to ensure a fair and transparent election. I believe students will get their answers once the election is held."

Asked about the new date for voting, he said, "We will hold a meeting tomorrow [today]. The decision will come after that."