RUCSU: JCD submits six-point demand to ensure fair polls

Rajshahi University (RU) unit of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Wednesday placed a six-point demand before the election commission to ensure a participatory, fair, and acceptable election of the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU), hall unions, and student representatives in the senate.

The JCD leaders submitted a memorandum to the chief election commissioner at the RUCSU treasurer's office at around 1:00 PM.

The six-point demand includes ensuring the use of transparent ballot boxes and counting ballots manually instead of adopting any digital methods to avoid manipulation.

Speaking at a press conference after submitting the memorandum, JCD's vice-president candidate Sheikh Nur Uddin Abir said, "These demands are not only ours. We have discussed them with other panels and candidates as well. The election commission has assured us that transparent ballot boxes will be used. Though manual vote counting might be time-consuming, it can be possible with adequate manpower. We expect a fair and acceptable election."

Chief Election Commissioner Prof A F Nazrul Islam acknowledged the importance of the demands, saying, "Except for one, the rest of the demands will be addressed by the election commission. Manual counting of ballots is a very difficult process, as we saw in Jahangirnagar University. But the other points are significant for holding a free and fair election and the commission is sincere in addressing them."

The demand also includes preparing a mandatory photo-attached voter list to prevent fake and forged votes, restricting entry within 100 metres of polling centres to only valid card/pass holders with strict security measures against gatherings outside queues, taking effective steps to curb the influence of illegal money for a level playing field and strictly monitoring the equal application of the code of conduct.