Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 15, 2025 (BSS) - Voting in the long-awaited elections of the Chattogram University Central Students' Union (CUCSU) and hall unions began on schedule at 9:00 am today across 15 designated polling centres on the university campus.

Students were seen gathering at polling centres well before the official opening hour, as returning officers sealed ballot boxes in presence of the media to ensure transparency.

For the first time in the university's electoral history, six-page ballot forms using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technology are being used in the polls.

Earlier in the morning, BNP's student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)-backed candidate Shafayet Hossain cast his vote at the Shaheed Hridoy Tarua Hall polling centre.

Soon after polling began, Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Vice President (VP) candidate Ibrahim Hossain Rony and Chhatra Dal-backed VP candidate Sazzad Hossain queued alongside fellow students at the IT Faculty Centre to cast their ballots.

Many first-time voters expressed their excitement over participating in what they described as a democratic process free from fear or pressure.

"It feels like an honour to vote according to my own will. After the fall of fascism, being able to vote in such an environment is truly encouraging," said Jashim Uddin, a student, after casting his vote.

Another student, Arif Ullah, shared a similar sentiment, saying, "Although I became a voter long ago, but this is the first time I exercised my franchise in the CUCSU election."

University authorities and election officials expressed optimism that the polls would remain free, fair and peaceful amid a festive atmosphere prevailing across the campus.