The High Court has temporarily halted the upcoming central students’ union (Sucsu) and hall union elections at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) for a period of four weeks. This decision has led to a continuation of protests by students at the university. The order was issued by a bench consisting of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan in response to a writ petition requesting a stay on the elections.
Following the issuance of the High Court order, SUST authorities promptly filed a petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the stay. The university is seeking a suspension of the High Court’s decision to allow the elections to proceed, as explained by senior lawyer Mohammad Belayet Hossain representing SUST.
Students initiated protests earlier in the day during the writ hearing and later blocked the Sylhet–Sunamganj regional highway in front of the university’s main gate, where they continued their demonstration. In response to the High Court’s ruling, the protesters announced their intention to sustain both the blockade and their movement until the elections are permitted to proceed.
The writ petition, filed by Sucsu vice-president candidate Mominur Rashid Shuvo on January 18, called for a halt to both the central and hall union elections. It cited previous directives from the Election Commission to suspend all elections before the national parliamentary polls, arguing that conducting the Sucsu election under such directives was legally questionable.
Legal representation during the hearing included Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Barrister Rashna Imam, and Barrister Moniruzzaman Asad for the petitioner, while Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu represented the university. Prior to the court’s decision, students had staged demonstrations on campus demanding the elections proceed as planned.
The protests began at the university roundabout and later moved to Administrative Building-1, which was temporarily locked by the demonstrators. Subsequently, students obstructed the Sylhet–Sunamganj highway, causing disruptions to traffic in the area. Throughout the protests, students voiced their opposition to perceived attempts to disrupt the election process and criticized a sit-in organized by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in front of the Election Commission headquarters regarding the Sucsu polls and other related matters.
After a hiatus of 28 years, the Sucsu election was initially scheduled to take place the following day (Tuesday).