RUCSU election campaign. Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Oct 7, 2025 (BSS) - After a long gap for vacations, campaigning for the upcoming election to the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU), Hall Councils, and student representatives to the Senate has gained momentum again.

Since Sunday last, the candidates have been passing busy days exchanging greetings with voters and conducting door-to-door campaigns. Many of them claimed to be getting spontaneous responses from the students. 

Chief Election Commissioner Prof F. Nazrul Islam said all sorts of necessary preparations have been completed and the election will be held on October 16 peacefully and successfully.

A total of 28,905 students, including 17,600 from 11 male dormitories and 11,305 from six female dormitories, are eligible to vote in the polls.

The election marks the revival of student representation at Rajshahi University after a 35-year gap, and the campus has already taken on a festive atmosphere, particularly in its dormitories and open spaces, as the campaign reaches its peak and preparations continue in full swing.

Concerned stakeholders opined that RUCSU is not only a process for electing leadership but also a means of establishing students' opinions and rights.

"There was no one to help us solve our problems, and we had no way to approach anyone for our academic, food, and accommodation issues," said Faria Rahman, a student of the Department of Sociology.

Anwar Hossain, a student of the Department of Political Science, said, "There were many organizations operating on the campus in the past, but unfortunately students had no representative body. Our problems will be solved through the upcoming election," he hoped.

Chief Returning Officer Prof Setaur Rahman informed that 903 candidates are contesting the elections - 248 for RUCSU, 597 for Hall Councils, and 58 for Senate seats.

In the RUCSU election, 18 candidates are vying for Vice-President (VP), 13 for General Secretary (GS), and 16 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).

In the Hall Council polls, 61 are contesting for VP, 58 for GS, and 57 for AGS, while in the six female halls, 16 candidates each are competing for VP and GS, and 15 for AGS.

A total of eleven panels are contesting across the RUCSU, Hall Councils, and Senate Representative elections.

RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hassan Naquib said the election is being held after a long gap of 35 years. "We are arranging the election after breaking the deadlock and facing various challenges," he said.

He added that all, including the RU administration and students, are eagerly waiting for the election. "We are going ahead to attain the cherished goal," he said.

"We have ensured a level playing field for the candidates, and the present pace will continue in the future," the VC hoped.

The RUCSU began its journey in 1961, aimed at realizing students' rights, fostering leadership development, and providing an organizational platform to discuss issues with the administration.

However, no RUCSU election was held after 1989. Student violence, organizational chaos, and the reluctance of the administration were said to be the major reasons behind the deadlock, making the RUCSU ineffective.