The Election Commission of Chittagong University has officially published the final list of candidates as well as the draft ballot numbers for the upcoming central student union (Chaksu), hall union, and hostel union elections. This marks the formal beginning of the election campaign process.

On Thursday, September 25, Election Commissioner and Member Secretary A K M Ariful Haque Siddique confirmed the development. He said that the ballot numbers of the candidates have been uploaded on the university’s official website, giving the green light for campaigning to commence.

Following the processes of scrutiny, appeal settlement, and candidate withdrawal, the Election Commission reported that a total of 907 individuals would contest across the various positions of Chaksu, hall unions, and hostel unions. However, the official list published on the website indicated 908 candidates in total. Among them, 415 candidates are contesting for 26 posts in Chaksu alone, while 493 candidates will be competing in the hall unions.

According to the commission, there are 27,521 draft voters for the election, consisting of 16,084 male students and 11,329 female students. The final voter count stands at 27,634.

For the key positions in Chaksu, 24 candidates are competing for the post of Vice President (VP), 22 for the position of General Secretary (GS), and 21 for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS). In addition, 17 candidates are contesting for the post of Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary, 12 for Sports Secretary, and 14 for Assistant Sports Secretary. For the post of Women’s Affairs Secretary, there are 13 candidates, while 10 are running for the Assistant Women’s Affairs position.

The post of Office Secretary has attracted 17 candidates, with 14 competing for the Assistant Office Secretary position. For Housing Secretary, 17 are in the race, while 14 candidates are contesting for the position of Communication and Housing Secretary. Nine candidates are competing for the post of Law and Human Rights Secretary.

In other categories, 20 candidates are running for Library and Cafeteria Secretary, while 17 are in the race for Literature, Culture, and Publication Secretary. The post of Assistant Literature, Culture, and Publication Secretary has 15 contenders. Eleven candidates are competing for the position of Science and Information Technology Secretary, and 12 for Research and Innovation Secretary. Twenty candidates are vying for the post of Social Service and Environment Secretary, while 15 are in the race for Health Secretary. For the position of Career Development and International Affairs Secretary, 16 candidates are contesting, while 20 are competing for Communication, Library, and Cafeteria Secretary. Meanwhile, the five executive member positions have drawn a total of 85 candidates.

The Chaksu election is set to take place on October 15, with anticipation running high among the university’s students and political groups. The Election Commission has emphasized that all logistical arrangements are in place to ensure the election is conducted smoothly.