Another member steps down from JUCSU election commission

Dr. Rezwana Karim Snigdha, an associate professor in the Anthropology Department and member of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) Election Commission, resigned on Saturday at around 2:00 pm. 

She informed the Election Commission of her decision in writing but declined to comment to the media, telling Daily Samakal, "I will not say anything to journalists in this regard."

Her resignation follows that of another Election Commission member, Professor Mafrohi Sattar, who stepped down on Friday night, citing irregularities in the JUCSU election process. 

Sattar protested the continuation of vote counting despite unresolved allegations raised during the elections.

The JUCSU election took place on Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm across 21 halls at Jahangirnagar University. 

The night before, candidates from a leftist organization and the Chhatra Dal panel alleged that the owner of the vote-counting machine supplier was a Jamaat leader, prompting the Election Commission and university administration to switch to manual vote counting. 

At 3:30 pm on election day, Chhatra Dal boycotted the vote, followed by four left-backed panels at 7:00 pm. 

Of the eight panels, 68 candidates from five boycotted, while 111 candidates from the remaining three panels participated in the election despite allegations.

Ballot boxes were moved to the Senate Building at around 7:00 pm on Thursday, and vote counting began after 10:00 pm. 

Half an hour before voting ended, three members of the Nationalist Teachers Forum—Professor Nazrul Islam, Professor Shamima Sultana, and Professor Nahrin Islam Khan—boycotted the process, raising further allegations.

On Friday morning, the death of teacher Jannatul Ferdous at the Election Commission office cast a pall over the campus. 

Students and candidates criticised the slow vote counting, attributing it to teacher politics and factionalism. 

Vote counting was halted for three hours in the afternoon but resumed at 7:00 pm in the central union. 

At 9:00 pm, Professor Dr. Mafrohi Sattar, president of the Nationalist Teachers Forum and Election Commission member, resigned, alleging a lack of a "level playing field." 

He told reporters, "I have seen many irregularities in the election. These errors have called the election process into question. Despite agreement within the Election Commission, my concerns were not addressed, and vote counting proceeded. I can no longer fulfill my duties as Election Commissioner."

Sattar had faced pressure not to resign since Thursday but submitted his resignation in writing, citing his inability to continue under the circumstances.