Long-awaited JUCSU polls on Thursday

After a long wait of 33 years, the much-anticipated Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections will be held on Thursday.

The JUCSU Election Commission, with full cooperation of the university administration, has finalized arrangements for the polls. 

Voting will take place uninterruptedly from 9 am to 5 pm across 21 centres with 224 booths in 11 male and 10 female residential halls, said a press release signed by JU's acting Director of Public Relations Office, Mohammad Mahiuddin on Wednesday evening.

A total of 67 teachers will serve as polling officers and 67 administrative officials as assistant polling officers. Vote counting will be conducted at the Senate Hall, said the press release.

A total of 1,500 police members, seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and five platoons of Ansar will be deployed across the campus. Additional security personnel will remain positioned both inside and outside the campus to tackle any unwanted incident.

Meanwhile, the university authorities have decided to keep all gates closed from 6 pm today (Sept 10) until 12 noon on September 12, except Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall gate and Prantik gate.

Besides, all makeshift shops, Tarzan Point stalls, shops near the old transport area, Murad Chattar adjacent to the new Arts building, Prantik north-side cloth market and those around the main gate will remain shut from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday. 

However, hall canteens and internal shops will remain open with adequate food reserves.

Motorcycle movement will remain prohibited from 6 pm today until 12 noon on Sept 12, except for emergency services such as security, water, electricity, gas and internet. 

However, only vehicles with circular stickers issued by the university and stickers from the Election Commission will be allowed entry. All staff buses will use the Prantik gate for entry on Thursday.

The university administration has urged all concerned to extend sincere cooperation to ensure campus security during the election.