Voting in RUCSU polls ends peacefully, counting begins

Voting for the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU), 17 Hall Councils and five Student Representatives to the Senate ended on the campus peacefully along with a festive atmosphere.

Counting of the votes began using modern Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) machines at Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium. 

Apart from this, the entire counting process is on display on a big screen directly in front of the auditorium.

Election Commissioner Professor Mostofa Kamal Akanda told BSS that the ballot boxes were brought to the auditorium and segregated into 100 bundles based on colours. Each bundle is being inserted into the OMR machine for counting.

"An expert team is monitoring the entire process," he said, adding that counting of each hall is being done in three phases. 

The result processing and scrutiny of all 17 halls is expected to take a maximum of 14 to 16 hours.

Prof Akanda also said the process is open to all to relieve candidates and students from tension and mental pressure. "Technology-based initiatives have been adopted to ensure transparency and flawlessness," he added.

Chief Election Commissioner Prof Dr. F Nazrul Islam told BSS that polling began at 9 am across 990 booths under 17 centres in nine academic buildings and continued until 4 pm.

The polling was held in the OMR method. A total of 212 teachers discharged their duties as presiding and assistant presiding officers and 91 others as polling officers. An expert team has been formed for preparing election results.

 Since morning, long queues of students had been seen at various polling centres as voters cast their ballots amid enthusiasm and festivity.

Talking to BSS, Rafiul Islam Zibon, General Secretary candidate from the Oikya Buddha Projonmo Panel, expressed satisfaction over the peaceful environment and voiced confidence about his victory.

A total of 28,905 students were eligible to vote in the elections - 17,600 from 11 male residential halls and 11,305 from six female halls.

According to Prof Nazrul Islam, 903 candidates are contesting in the polls-- 248 for RUCSU, 597 for Hall Councils, and 58 for Senate seats.

In the RUCSU elections, 18 candidates are vying for the post of Vice-President (VP), 13 for General Secretary (GS), and 16 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).

For the Hall Councils, 61 are contesting for VP, 58 for GS, and 57 for AGS posts. In the six female halls, 16 candidates each are competing for VP and GS positions while 15 are vying for the AGS post.

A total of 11 student panels participated in the RUCSU, Hall Council, and Senate elections.

To ensure peaceful polling, Prof Nazrul Islam said unprecedented security measures have been taken. A three-tier security system has been enforced across the campus.

A three-tier security system has been ensured to make the elections successful. 

A total of 2,300 police personnel, 12 platoons of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are now on duty on the RU campus. 

During the polls, RAB and BGB set up temporary camps on the campus.