Sust students protest EC ban on organisations' elections until Feb 12

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) staged a protest last night following an Election Commission (EC) directive, barring all professional bodies and organisations from holding elections until February 12, the scheduled date for the 13th national polls.

The protest began around 11:00pm yesterday in front of the university's IICT building, where students gathered before bringing out a procession that marched through key roads on the campus.

The Shahjalal University Central Students' Union (SUCSU) and hall union elections is scheduled for January 20.

However, the SUCSU Election Commission is yet to issue any notice regarding the polls date following the EC order.

Demonstrators said the SUCSU elections had remained suspended for a long time, and the latest decision amounted to a denial of their rights.

Mujahidul Islam, general secretary candidate of the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed 'Durbar SUSTian Oikya' panel, said, "We want students' representation, and that is our fundamental right. We will not accept this conspiracy to suspend the long-overdue SUCSU polls."

He added, "The EC must reconsider this decision. Otherwise, we will not return home without a clear resolution."

This morning, the protesters postponed their programme, announcing a sit-in at 5:00pm in front of the administrative building and a press conference at 6:00pm today.