For the first time since its establishment, Jagannath University is set to hold the Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) election.
Responding to long-standing student demands, the university administration has announced a tentative roadmap, fixing November 27 as the polling date.
According to a notice signed by Acting Registrar Prof. Dr. Md. Sheikh Giyas Uddin on Wednesday, the election commission will be formed and begin its activities on October 8. The process will start with discussions involving student bodies, journalist groups, and other stakeholders. Step by step, the schedule will be finalized, followed by preparation of the voter list, submission and scrutiny of nomination papers, and, finally, voting and result announcement.
Students had earlier staged protests pressing three key demands: fixing an effective date for the supplementary scholarship, announcing the JnUCSU election roadmap, and ensuring subsidized healthy food at the cafeteria alongside improved facilities and air conditioning in the central library. Their hunger strike ended on Wednesday after Proctor Prof. Dr. Tazammol Hoque and Teachers' Association Joint Secretary Prof. Dr. Md. Bilal Hossain offered them juice to break the fast.
"We have officially accepted the students' demands in writing. The election will be held on November 27. Everything is now clear," said Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rezaul Karim.
Earlier on Tuesday, five leaders of the Chattra Odhikar Parishad and Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council began a hunger strike on campus demanding the election roadmap.
