JUSU Election Heats Up with 8 Panels in the Race

After more than three decades, the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUSU) election is set to take place on September 11, sparking excitement across the campus. Political and cultural organizations have announced their full and partial panels, kicking off their election campaigns. Students anticipate a fiercely competitive "vote battle" among independent candidates and those backed by various organizations.

In this election, a total of 179 candidates will contest for 25 posts in the central union. So far, five full panels and three partial panels have been announced by different organizations. These include three panels supported by Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, and BAGCHAS, three progressive panels (including one led by Chhatra Union’s Ankur-Arko with several cultural organizations, another with Chhatra Union’s Imon-Tanzim and a faction of Chhatra Front, and a third from another faction of Chhatra Front), and two independent panels led by Jitu-Shakil and Megh. Additionally, several candidates have declared their intent to run independently outside of these panels.

**Chhatra Dal:** Chhatra Dal has announced a full panel for the JUSU election, led by Sheikh Sadi Hasan for Vice-President (VP) and Tanzila Hosain Baishakhi for General Secretary (GS). Other candidates include Sajjadul Islam for Joint General Secretary (Male), Anjuman Ara Ikra for Joint General Secretary (Female), Yeamin Hawladar for Education and Research Secretary, Likhon Chandra Roy for Environment and Nature Conservation Secretary, Zahid Hasan Khan for Literature and Publication Secretary, Abidur Rahman for Cultural Secretary, Parvez Hasan (Nishan) for Co-Cultural Secretary, Aminul Islam for Drama Secretary, Jaber Hasan for IT and Library Secretary, Tawhidur Rahman Khan for Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary, Shakil Sardar for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Male), Kazi Mousumi Afroz for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Female), Ujjwal Hasan for Sports Secretary, Ruhul Amin Sweet for Co-Sports Secretary (Male), Shahanaz Parveen (Shanu) for Co-Sports Secretary (Female), Zahirul Islam for Transport and Communication Secretary, and Mominul Islam for Health and Food Safety Secretary. For the three executive member posts reserved for women, Sumaiya Sultana, Happy Akter, and Shayla Sabreen will contest. For the three executive member posts reserved for men, Hamidullah Salman, Mehedi Hasan, and AM Rafidullah have been nominated. However, top leaders of the Chhatra Dal branch are unable to participate due to not having active student status. **Integrated Students’ Alliance (Chhatra Shibir):** Chhatra Shibir’s panel is led by Arifullah Adib, a member of the university branch, for Vice-President, and Mazharul Islam, the branch office secretary, for General Secretary. Other candidates include Firdaus Al Hasan for Joint General Secretary (Male), Ayesha Siddika Meghla for Joint General Secretary (Female), Shafayet Mir for Environment and Nature Conservation Secretary, Shafiuzzaman Shaheen for Sports Secretary, Mahadi Hasan for Co-Sports Secretary (Male), Lubna for Co-Sports Secretary (Female), Rashedul Islam for IT and Library Secretary, Shahriar for Cultural Secretary, and Rayhan Uddin for Co-Cultural Secretary. Additionally, Ruhul Islam from the Drama and Dramatics Department will contest for Drama Secretary, Abu Ubaida Usama from the Pharmacy Department for Education and Research Secretary, Zahidul Islam for Literature and Publication Secretary, Hafez Ariful Islam for Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary, Tauhid Hasan for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Male), and Nigar Sultana for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Female). For the women’s executive member posts, Fabliha Jahan (Finance and Banking), Nabila Binte Harun (History, first year), and Nusrat Jahan (Law) will contest. For the men’s executive member posts, Hafez Tarikul Islam (Mathematics), Abu Talha (Physics), Rakibul Islam (Chemistry, branch HRD secretary), Muhibullah (Botany, president of Quran and Cultural Study Club), and Muhsin Islam (visually impaired, first-year student) have been nominated. **Student Unity Forum (BAGCHAS):** The panel backed by the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council (BAGCHAS) university branch is led by Arifuzzaman Ujjwal, the branch convener, for Vice-President, and Abu Tauhid Mohammad Siyam, the member secretary, for General Secretary. Other candidates include Ziauddin Ayan (Joint Convener) for Joint General Secretary (Male), Maliha Namlah for Joint General Secretary (Female), Farhana Binte Jigar Farina for Education and Research Secretary, Md. Sajjad Hosen for Environment and Nature Conservation Secretary, Maziur Rahman Chowdhury for Literature and Publication Secretary, Raied Hosen for Cultural Secretary, Fatema Tuz Zohra (Baishakhi) for Co-Cultural Secretary, Sabikunnahar (Poli) for Co-Sports Secretary (Female), Ring Yong Murong (Rushad) for Co-Sports Secretary (Male), Safib Al Mahmud Arnab for IT and Library Secretary, Ahsan Labib for Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary, Nadia Rahman Anwesha for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Female), Kazi Mehrab (Turya) for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Male), Nasim Al Tarik for Health and Food Safety Secretary, and Md. Nahid Hasan (Imon) for Transport and Communication Secretary. For the women’s executive member posts, Prishti Khan, Tanzila Tasnim Setu, and Afia Ibnat Samiha will contest. For the men’s executive member posts, Sadat Hane Islam, Jwamin Ahmed, and Mohammad Ali Chisti have been nominated. However, Nazmul Islam resigned from the organization and announced his candidacy as an independent for Joint General Secretary after failing to secure his desired post. Another joint convener, Kausar Alam, also declared his independent candidacy for Joint General Secretary. **Independent Students’ Alliance:** The Independent Students’ Alliance panel is led by Abdur Rashid Jitu, former central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and convener of the Mass Uprising Protection Movement, for Vice-President, and Md. Shakil Ali, a History Department student injured during the mass uprising, for General Secretary. Other candidates include Tauhidul Islam Bhuiya (History, 50th batch) for Joint General Secretary, Hasibul Hasan Imon for Education and Research Secretary, Turja Kirtaniya for Literature and Publication Secretary, Mohammad Ifrat Amin Akshar for Cultural Secretary, Md. Anwar Hosen for Co-Cultural Secretary, Md. Ershad Miya for Drama Secretary, Sayeda Alvi Khorshed (Nitul) for Co-Sports Secretary (Female), Saurav Kumar Bishwas (Shubh) for IT and Library Secretary, Airin Sultana Akhi for Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary, Jannatul Firdaus Anjum for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Female), Sharif Muhammad for Co-Social Welfare and Human Resource Development Secretary (Male), Md. Rayhan for Health and Food Safety Secretary, and Shamim for Transport and Communication Secretary. For the men’s executive member posts, Tanjid Bishwas Rich, Sultanul Mulk Shubh, and Mohammad Mahdi will contest.