Students are voting in the JACSU elections. Photo: BSS

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, Sept 11, 2025 (BSS) - The long-awaited elections to the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall unions began on schedule at 9 am today. 

Voting will continue without interruption from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 21 centres, comprising 224 booths in 11 male and 10 female residential halls.

Students were seen gathering in front of the centres well before the official opening hour, while returning officers sealed ballot boxes in the presence of polling agents and media representatives to ensure transparency.

For the first time in JUCSU history, Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology-based ballots are being used in the elections.

Many first-time voters expressed excitement over participating in a democratic process after a 33-year hiatus.

Nusrat Jahan, a first-time voter, said after casting her vote, "It feels like an honour to vote according to my own will. After such a long gap, being able to vote in this environment is truly encouraging." 

Another student, Mahfuz Rahman, shared similar feelings: "Although I became a voter long ago, I never had the chance to cast my ballot freely for my preferred candidate. This is the first time I exercised my franchise in the JUCSU election."

University authorities and election officials voiced optimism that the polls would remain free, fair and peaceful amid the festive mood across the campus.

A total of 67 teachers are serving as polling officers, while an equal number of administrative officials have been assigned as assistant polling officers. Ballot counting will take place at the Senate Hall.

To ensure security, 1,500 police personnel, seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and five platoons of Ansar have been deployed across the campus. 

Additional forces have been stationed both inside and outside the premises to prevent any untoward incidents.

The university authorities earlier announced that all campus entrances would remain closed from 6 pm yesterday until 12 noon tomorrow, except for the Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall gate and Prantik gate. 

In addition, makeshift shops and stalls at Tarzan Point, near the old transport area, Murad Chattar adjacent to the new Arts Building, the cloth market on the north side of Prantik, and around the main gate will stay shut until 6 pm tomorrow.

Hall canteens and internal shops, however, will remain open with adequate food supplies. 

Meanwhile, motorcycle movement has been banned on campus until 12 noon tomorrow, with exemptions for emergency services, including security, water, electricity, gas and internet.