RUCSU Election: Shibir Secures Victory in 20 out of 23 Posts

In a historic outcome at the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election, the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed United Student Alliance has achieved a landslide victory by winning 20 out of 23 posts. Only three positions — General Secretary (GS), Sports Secretary, and Science and Technology Secretary — slipped from their grasp.

On Friday (October 17), Chief Election Commissioner Professor F. Nazrul Islam officially announced the final results at 8:30 AM.

Salahuddin Ammar, a former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Movement and a familiar face on the Rajshahi University campus, won the GS post. Meanwhile, the Sports Secretary position went to national women’s footballer and Chhatra Dal-backed candidate Nargis Khatun — the only winner from the Chhatra Dal-backed panel. The Science and Technology Secretary post was won by independent candidate Tofayel Ahmed Topha.

The Vice President (VP) post was secured by Mostakur Rahman Zahid of the United Student Alliance with the highest number of votes. In the Assistant General Secretary (AGS) race, Shibir-backed Salman Sabbir narrowly defeated Chhatra Dal-backed Zahin Biswas Esha.

Shibir-backed candidates from the alliance also won the remaining positions. Zahid Hasan Zoha won the Cultural Secretary post, Rakibul Islam became the Assistant Cultural Secretary, and Abu Sayeed Naeem secured the Assistant Sports Secretary role. Saeeda Hafsa won the Women’s Affairs Secretary post, while Samia Jannat became the Assistant Women’s Affairs Secretary.

Nazmus Sakib won as the Information and Research Secretary, with Sifat Abu Saleh as the Assistant. Mujahidul Islam won the Media and Publications Secretary position, with Asadullah Hil Galib and Mujahidul Islam Sayem taking assistant posts under the same wing.

Imran Laskar won the Debate and Literary Secretary post, while Nayon Mursalin became his assistant. Abdullah Al Masud was elected as the Environment and Social Service Secretary, with Masuma Islam Momo as his assistant.

The Executive Member posts were won by Deep, Sujon Chandra, Imjiyaul Ali, and Khalid Hasan.

Previously, on Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM, students from 17 halls cast their votes at 17 centers across 9 university buildings. Despite mutual allegations throughout the day, the voting process concluded in the afternoon. Vote counting began at 8:30 PM, four and a half hours later, at the university’s Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium.

Result announcements began around 10:30 PM, starting with the women's halls. In this election, 247 candidates contested for 23 RUCSU posts across 10 panels. Additionally, 597 candidates competed for 15 hall union posts in 17 halls, and 58 candidates vied for 5 Senate student representative posts. For RUCSU’s VP, GS, and AGS posts, there were 18, 13, and 16 candidates respectively.

There were a total of 28,901 registered voters — 11,305 female students and 17,596 male students. The overall voter turnout was 69.83%, with the six female halls recording a turnout of 63.24%.