The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections concluded on Thursday evening amid allegations of vote rigging, mismanagement and a boycott by one panel.
Professor Mafruhi Sattar, a member of the election commission, said balloting ended around 5:45pm.
“We will begin counting votes shortly and hope to announce the results as early as possible,” he told UNB, adding that voter turnout figures would also be released soon.
While the polls drew long queues of enthusiastic students, controversy marred the historic event, the first JUCSU elections in 33 years.
Several teachers withdrew from election duties and the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)-backed panel boycotted the vote.
Tanzila Hossain Boishakhi, JCD’s general secretary candidate, said they pulled out because polling officers from Islami Chhatra Shibir allegedly entered centres an hour before voting began.
JUCSU elections close amid irregularity allegations and boycott
She claimed Shibir supporters were engaged in vote rigging at various booths, with some female supporters casting multiple ballots.
Three teachers reportedly aligned with BNP -- Prof Shamima Sultana, Nazrul Islam, and Nahrin Khan -- also stepped down from their roles, citing widespread irregularities.
“We have been witnessing irregularities since morning. Extra ballot papers were supplied to each centre. When we protested, officials simply told us to tear up the extra ballots,” Prof Shamima told reporters.
She also said the indelible ink used to mark voters’ fingers was ineffective. “Under these circumstances, we feel we cannot continue to be part of this election,” she added.
Voting began at 9am in a festive atmosphere, with 178 candidates vying for 25 JUCSU posts. About 1,200 police personnel were deployed across the campus to ensure smooth proceedings.
