Potential candidates start campaigning around Sucsu elections

S A Shofiee, Sylhet:

After 28 years, the announcement of the possible date for the Central Students’ Union (Sucsu) elections of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet has created excitement among the students. Student organizations have started organizing to form party and independent panels.

Various analyses are also underway among the students regarding the candidature. Along with this, the activity of potential candidates for the posts of Vice President (VP), General Secretary (GS) and Assistant General Secretary (AGS) has increased.

The last Sucsu election was held in 1997. As a result, the democratic platform of the students has been inactive for a long time.

On September 14, the university’s Vice Chancellor AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury announced that the Shaksu elections could be held in the second week of November. Since then, excitement and election activity have been seen among the members of the student organization and general students. The names of potential candidates are also being heard.

Talking to leaders and activists of various student organizations, it is known that five panels including the Nationalist Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Union, Bam Gharana and Progressive Students’ Alliance and the Independent Panel of Students are being discussed more on campus. The names of potential candidates are also being discussed. Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir are actively working to form an inclusive panel among the student organizations.

According to general students, potential candidates have already started various welfare activities for students on their own initiative, starting from making demands. Many of them are regularly submitting student-friendly demands to the administration by submitting memorandums. They are also being supported by the party. Some candidates are trying to attract students to the party by making various promises. However, discussions are going on between the student organizations and the students to reach an agreement on the formation of the panel. Bargaining is going on between them over various conditions and top positions.

From the Chhatra Dal, the names of Shabi Pravi branch president Rahat Zaman, general secretary Naeem Sarkar, senior joint general secretary Nazmus Shakib, joint general secretary Zahirul Islam and Kazi Junaid alias Junaid Hasan are in the news. Several leaders and activists of the organization have hinted that they may contest for the top three positions.

Shabi Pravi Chhatra Dal president Rahat Zaman said, “Those who are acceptable, have advanced in academic results, and have a clean image will be given priority for the top positions in the formation of the panel. However, no decision has been made yet. The decision of the organization’s central parliament is final.”

The leaders and activists of the Islamic Chhatra Shibir are regularly active on campus. They are also seen regularly taking various initiatives under different banners in various programs for the welfare of students. Talking to the leaders and activists of the Chhatra Shibir, it was learned that Delwar Hossain Shishir, the former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement Shabi Pravi branch, may contest for the post of VP. He has already been seen to be active in various initiatives of the student wing. He may be put forward for leading the July mass uprising from the front, for a clean image and for forming an inclusive panel.

Apart from this, Mujahidul Islam, the office secretary of the organization’s Shabiprabir branch, and Shakil Mahmud, the literary editor, are also being discussed for top positions.

SUST Chhatra Shibir President Tarek Monowar said, “We are trying to form an inclusive panel. We are thinking of forming a panel with those who have contributed to the welfare of students and are skilled and competent in their respective fields. We are trying to ensure that the aspirations of students are fulfilled in Sucsu.”

On September 14, the university’s Vice Chancellor AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury announced that the Shaksu elections may be held in the second week of November.

It has been reported from several sources that a Bangladesh Students Union-supported panel will participate in the elections. However, they have not started any election-oriented activities on campus yet. The names of Nazneen Liza, a student of the English department, as the VP, organizer Zubayer Ahmed Jewel as the GS, and Anwar Hossain, a student of the Anthropology department, as the AGS are being discussed from this organization. Nazneen Liza said, “We will take the final decision on the formation of the panel after the formation of the election commission.”

Meanwhile, there is a possibility of the Islami Chhatra Majlis also giving a single panel. The organization’s former training secretary Kawsar Ahmed is likely to be a candidate for the VP post, current president Junaid Ahmed as the GS post, and associate member Kamruzzaman Mia as the AGS post. Junaid Ahmed said, “We are more likely to give a single panel. However, discussions are underway with other student organizations to reach an agreement.”

Efforts are being made to form an independent panel with leaders and activists of the university’s Sammilit Sangskritik Jote, former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, and students. Discussions are also underway with Chhatra Dal on that part. In this independent panel, Palash Bakhtiar, former coordinator of the Shabipravi branch of the anti-discrimination student movement, Mostakim Billah, a student of the Computer Science and Engineering Department, and Sajjad Hossain, a student of the Mathematics Department, may come as potential candidates for the top positions. It is heard that a section of the progressive students on campus may support them. Palash Bakhtiar said, “Students want everyone to have independent opinions, everything to be inclusive. Those who are active in various campus-based activities, therefore, are gaining importance among the general students.”