HC suspends SUCSU polls

The High Court (HC) on Monday postponed Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Student Union (SUCSU) election slated for Tuesday, reports UNB.

The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan passed the order after hearing a writ petition.

Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol stood for the petitioner while Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu stood for SUST and Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state.

Earlier, on Sunday, Maminur Rashid Shuvho, an independent candidate of SUCSU polls, submitted a writ petition seeking stay order on the election, as the Election Commission (EC) issued an order to suspend activities of all kinds of elections before the national election scheduled to be held on February 12.

Chief Election Commissioner and others were made respondents to the rule.

Our Sylhet Correspondent adds: Following the HC's verdict to postpone the election, students - including candidates from the Shibir-backed panel -began protesting. They locked the university's administrative building and blocked the Sylhet-Sunamganj road as part of their demonstration.

The election was scheduled to be held on Tuesday. While preparations for the polls were underway, students received news of the postponement. Initially, voting was set for December 17.

To keep the 13th National Election and Referendum "free from influence," the EC issued an order on January 12 instructing that elections of all types of organisations should not be held.

Despite this, a section of students remained adamant in their demand for voting. On January 15, the EC allowed the SUCSU election to proceed, on the condition that the code of conduct was strictly followed.

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