With the election to choose 25 registered graduate representatives for the Jahangirnagar University (JU) senate scheduled for Saturday (December 30), a pro-Awami League panel alleged that the vice chancellor has violated rules. 

The panel, led by former JU vice chancellor Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir, alleged that the JU VC Prof Farzana Islam declared the election date before appointing the returning officer, violating the section 1.1 of the statute.

The allegation was made at a press conference organised by the panel -- Bangabandhur Adarsha o Muktijuddher Chetonay Bishwasi Pragotishil Jote -- at the teachers' lounge of the university cafeteria at 11:30am yesterday.

In a written statement, the panel also alleged that the VC through a written order had asked the officials of the election cell to make public the personal information of all voters.

It is a violation of election code, the panel alleged.

To verify the allegations, this correspondent talked to the VC.

Referring to the issue centring the appointment of returning officer, the VC said she in consultation with administrative body appointed the returning officer on September 11 and declared the election date on September 12, meaning the panel's allegation is not true.

Regarding disclosing voters' information, JU VC said some candidates from other panels earlier alleged that one panel (led by Shariff Enamul Kabir) had got personal phone numbers of all voters, which is not fair.

To cope with the situation, only voters' phone numbers were made public so that all panels get an equal chance to reach the voters, said VC Farzana. 

Meanwhile, on December 21, a national Bangla daily published a report against the panel for obtaining personal information of voters. 

Referring to that, the JU VC alleged that after publishing the report, the panel called on her on December 22 at the senate hall of the university and misbehaved with her.

They also asked her in a rude manner to take action against the national daily journalist, she alleged.

Asked, Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir, denied the allegation of misbehaviour. He said they met the VC to remind her that she cannot make public the voters' personal information.  

He also said they did not take the voters' information in an underhand way. Rather, his panel has collected the information over the years, he added.   

Asked about her decision of making public the voters' information, the VC said her decision did not violate the election rules.  

It is worth mentioning that a total of 119 candidates, from three panels and 44 individual candidates, are vying for 25 posts.

Of the three panels, two are pro-Awami League -- Bangabandhur Adarsha o Muktijuddher Chetonay Bishwasi Pragatishil Jote [led by Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir] and Bangabandhur Adarsha o Muktijuddher Chetonay Pragatishil Graduate Mancho [led by another former VC Professor MA Matin].    

The pro-BNP panel is Swadhinata, Sarbabhoumotwa, Bahudaliya Ganatantra o Bangladeshi Jatiyatabadey Bishwasi Panel, led by Prof Shamsul Alam Selim.

In the meantime, ahead of the election, the university campus has worn a festive look as the election will be held after 19 years. The last election to choose registered graduate representatives took place in 1998.

The university authorities are taking preparation for the polls, said JU Treasurer Prof Sheikh Md Monzurul Huq, also returning officer of the election.

VC Prof Farzana said, "We hope that the election will be held peacefully… we have been waiting for 19 years for this election."

"After holding the election successfully, we will think about holding Jucsu [Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union] polls," she added.

VISITORS NOT ALLOWED AT JU FOR SIX DAYS

Ahead of the election, Jahangirnagar University authorities imposed a ban on the entry of visitors into the campus for six days, said a press release issued by JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique on Monday.

The restriction will remain in force from December 25 to 30.

Some of the roads inside the campus will remain off limits to rickshaws on the election day, said the release.