Huge Turnout of Female Voters at CUCSU Polls

In a historic milestone for student politics, elections to the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) and the hall unions are taking place today for the first time in 35 years.

Polling for the 7th CUCSU election began at 9:00 am and will continue until 4:00 pm, with vote counting scheduled to begin immediately after the polls close.

To promote transparency and student participation, 14 LED screens have been installed across the campus to provide live election updates throughout the day.

A total of 27,518 students — including 16,189 male and 11,329 female voters — are eligible to cast their ballots in this landmark election. In total, 415 candidates are contesting for 26 CUCSU posts, making it one of the most anticipated events in the university’s recent history.

Ink Fading Allegation by Chhatra Dal Candidate
Chhatra Dal’s vice president (VP) candidate Sajjad Hossain Hridoy alleged on Wednesday morning that the indelible ink applied to voters’ fingers was coming off shortly after being marked.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at the IT Faculty around 10:00 am, he said the fading ink raised concerns about the fairness of the election.

At the same polling center, Shibir-backed VP candidate Ibrahim Hossain Roni was also seen casting his vote. However, the general secretary (GS) candidate from the same panel, Sayed Bin Habib, said he was unaware of any such issue. “If it’s true, the Election Commission should take immediate action,” he told journalists around 10:30 am.

CU Chhatra Dal Raises Similar Complaint
The Chittagong University unit of Chhatra Dal also claimed that the supposedly indelible ink used in the CUCSU, hall, and hostel elections was fading soon after application.

CU Chhatra Dal General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman made the allegation around 10:15 am, saying the organization was preparing to file a formal complaint with the Election Commission.
“The ink was supposed to be indelible, but it’s fading quickly. We’re submitting a complaint shortly regarding this matter,” he said.

Huge Turnout of Female Voters
A significant number of female students have been seen actively participating in today’s CUCSU and hall union elections.

At polling centers in the Faculties of Business Studies and Social Sciences, long queues of female voters were visible from early morning, reflecting strong enthusiasm among women students to exercise their voting rights.

“The July uprising has created an opportunity for change, and we want to make the most of it,” said Tania Sultana, a fourth-year student from the Department of English.

Voting Begins After a Short Delay
Although polling was scheduled to start at 9:00 am, voting began around 9:30 am. Despite the delay, the atmosphere on campus remained festive, with many students casting their votes in a CUCSU election for the first time in their university lives.

Five faculty buildings have been designated as polling centers, and outside the venues, student panel workers and supporters were seen cheering and rallying for their candidates.

Students Arrive by Shuttle Train to Vote
The first shuttle train of the day arrived on campus at 8:20 am, carrying enthusiastic students eager to cast their votes.

“After 35 years, we finally have a CUCSU election. It’s a matter of pride, and we want to choose deserving candidates,” said Umme Humaira, a fourth-year student of International Relations.

Parmita Chakraborty, a first-year student of Communication and Journalism, added, “All these years, I came to campus for classes and exams. Today, I’ve come as a voter — to witness history.”