Voting in the long-awaited Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) election is underway, ending a 36-year hiatus as students prepare to elect their representatives once again.

Each student will cast 40 votes — 26 for the central student union and 14 for the hall unions. The entire campus has taken on a festive look. From faculty buildings and dormitories to the TSC and cafeteria, the university is abuzz with election excitement under tight security.

Polling will run uninterrupted from 9am to 4pm across 15 centres located in five buildings — the Faculties of Business Administration, Social Sciences, Science, and two Arts and Humanities buildings. A special booth has been set up at the Cucsu building for visually impaired students.

Five executive magistrates have been assigned to oversee law and order at the five faculties, while four more magistrates will lead mobile courts outside the centres. Around 1,700 personnel from the police, RAB, APBn, BGB, university security, Rover Scouts, and BNCC have been deployed to ensure safety.

Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr Monir Uddin told the media that the commission has taken all necessary measures to ensure a peaceful vote, adding that there will be strict monitoring to prevent the entry of outsiders.

Vying candidates

A total of 908 candidates are contesting the polls. Of them, 415 are vying for 26 positions in the central student union, including 24 for vice president (VP), 22 for general secretary (GS), and 21 for assistant GS.

Other key posts include Sports Secretary (12), Assistant Sports Secretary (14), Literary and Cultural Secretary (17), Assistant Literary Secretary (15), Office Secretary (17), Assistant Office Secretary (14), Women’s Affairs Secretary (13), Assistant Women’s Affairs Secretary (10), Science and ICT Secretary (11), Research Secretary (12), Social Services Secretary (20), Health Secretary (15), Liberation War Affairs Secretary (17), Career Development Secretary (16), Communication and Accommodation Secretary (17), Assistant Communication Secretary (14), Law and Human Rights Secretary (9), Library Secretary (20), and 85 candidates for Executive Member posts.

In the 14 hall unions, 473 candidates are contesting — 350 in 10 male dormitories and 123 in five female halls.

Classes and exams will remain suspended on Wednesday and Thursday due to the election. The polling and counting process will be broadcast live on 14 LED screens installed at key campus points.

Shuttle train trips have been increased by two, and 15 additional buses have been arranged to help students reach the campus to cast their votes.

Voter tally

The university has a total of 27,518 registered voters — 16,189 male and 11,329 female.

According to the Election Commission, 4,036 voters are registered under the Faculty of Engineering, 5,263 under the Shahid Hriday Chandra Tarua Building of Arts and Humanities, 4,538 under the Science Faculty, 6,606 under the Dr Muhammad Yunus Building of Social Sciences, and 7,073 under the Faculty of Business Administration.

Cucsu was established in 1966 to safeguard student rights and promote leadership. The last election was held in 1990, with Wednesday’s vote marking the end of a 36-year hiatus caused by political unrest and administrative complications.