The date for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election has been postponed for the third time. The tentative new date has been set for September 11.
The announcement came following a marathon 10-hour meeting with student representatives, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, which began Thursday night and concluded in the early hours of Friday.
Why has it been delayed again?
Speaking at the meeting, the vice-chancellor said: "The election had to be postponed due to the administration’s failure to complete the trial of students and teachers allegedly involved in or accused of abetting the July 2024 attack on students, as per the previously announced roadmap.”
"Under the newly announced timeline: By August 4, the final verdict on the temporarily suspended individuals involved in the July attack will be ensured, and the Jucsu election schedule will be announced on the same day,” he added.
He also said: “By August 31, the final verdict on the accused teachers will be confirmed.”
New election commission to be formed
With the extension of the election timeline, the previously formed election commission has become void. The university authorities have confirmed that a new election commission will be formed, and a revised schedule will be issued on August 4.
Additionally, the vice-chancellor mentioned that the university plans to submit the primary investigation report related to the July attack to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in the first week of September. A formal case will be filed thereafter.
A history of postponements
This latest announcement marks the third postponement of the Jucsu election.
The initial announcement about Jucsu came on February 5, with plans to hold the election by May 21.
However, due to demands for reforms to the Jucsu constitution and opposition from various student organizations, the election was delayed.
On April 30, a fresh election schedule was announced, setting July 31 as the new date.
Now, the election has been pushed back once again to September 11 as the tentative date. Despite the repeated delays, the administration remains committed to holding the Jucsu election under the revised roadmap.
What students are saying
Reacting to the announcement, Arifuzzaman Uzzal, convener of the Democratic Student Council's Jahangirnagar University unit, said: “The election has already been postponed multiple times over this same issue, and now it’s been delayed yet again.”
He added: “Still, for the last time, we are willing to place our trust in this post-uprising administration. We hope they will not betray the students like the previous administrations did.”
Riddho Anindya Ganguli, general secretary of a faction of Chhatra Union, said: "We want Jucsu elections as soon as possible. A functional Jucsu will work in favour of students."
Abdur Rashid Jitu, convener of the Mass Uprising Protection Movement, said: “Although the final voter list was supposed to be published on June 30, the administration failed to complete the trial process.”
He added: “Jucsu has been one of the students’ core demands. Our movement surrounding this election has been ongoing for a long time. We are hopeful that the students will stand firm against all conspiracies.”
