Following the unveiling of the voter list by the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU), students have voiced allegations of inaccuracies, sparking widespread disapproval. Numerous present students have reported their names missing from the list, with several graduates still being included, raising doubts about the fairness of the election process.
The JnU Election Commission made the voter list public on Thursday night. Shortly after, social media platforms were inundated with grievances from students who claimed they were being deprived of their voting privileges. Many students took to university-related Facebook groups, sharing screenshots showcasing the absence of their names and demanding corrective measures.
Riyasal Rakib, a member of the convening committee of JnU’s Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal unit, expressed, “I am a current master’s student with one remaining semester, yet my name does not appear on the list. This marks the inaugural JnUCSU election in the university’s history, and every existing student holds the right to vote. I call upon the Election Commission to rectify the list promptly.”
Rakib, a student from the Bangla department, alleged, “Had proper academic data been utilized, this situation could have been averted. It appears that some names were intentionally included or excluded to favor specific groups or departments.”
Kishour Anjum Samyo, a candidate from the Theatre department and a current eighth-semester student undergoing midterm exams, questioned, “Why was I omitted from the voter list? The Election Commission should provide an explanation.”
“All my fellow batch-mates are listed except me, and I am a candidate in this election. This is highly disheartening. If such discrepancies emerge even before voting commences, it casts doubts on the commission’s openness,” he added.
Towhid Chowdhury, another student from the Theatre department, shared that his name was also absent from the list and that he had reported the issue to his department.
On the other hand, students from the 14th batch of the Law department, who have already finished their master’s exams and received results, were still included in the voter list. Jannatul Ferdous Shimu, a student from that batch, remarked, “Despite our results being announced, all of us have been enlisted as voters. I believe only current students should feature on the list to ensure the election’s credibility.”
Efforts to reach Chief Election Commissioner Mostofa Hasan were unsuccessful as his phone was powered off. Assistant Election Commissioner Zulfiqar Mahmud mentioned, “Notices have been dispatched to all departments. They are actively working to address the concerns, and we anticipate resolving everything by Sunday. In most instances, master’s students from the 2022–23 session who are yet to complete their degrees were inadvertently excluded. These issues will be rectified shortly.”
The JnUCSU election is slated for December 22. Prior to the voter list controversy, students had voiced reservations about the election’s timing. With the current situation, there are growing apprehensions about the credibility of the much-anticipated student polls.