Rajshahi University Holds RACSU Elections After 34 Years

For the first time in 34 years, Rajshahi University is holding elections for its Central Students' Union (RACSU), hall unions, and student representatives to the university senate. The voting will run from 9 AM to 4 PM across 17 centers in 9 buildings, with 990 booths set up to accommodate the 28,901 registered student voters.

This marks the 17th RACSU election in the university’s 72-year history, and the first since the 1989–90 session. The election has generated excitement among students, while the university has taken extensive security measures, deploying police, BGB, and RAB personnel to maintain order.

RACSU comprises 25 positions, of which 23 are directly elected by students. Each hall union has 17 positions, with elections being held for 15. Additionally, five student representatives to the University Senate are being elected simultaneously.

Historical records show that the first student union elections were held in the late 1950s under the name Rajshahi University Student Union. Since independence, RAKSU elections have been held only six times, with various student wings Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Union, and Chhatra Moitree winning key positions.

Candidates contesting this year include 18 for Vice President (VP), 13 for General Secretary (GS), and 16 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). Among the voters, 11,305 are female, and 17,596 are male.

Commenting on the significance of the election, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) district president and RU alumnus Ahmad Safiuddin said that in earlier decades, student union elections were platforms for grooming social leadership, but later became politically charged. He noted that past governments suspended elections fearing criticism from elected student leaders.

The last RACSU election saw BNP's student wing leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi elected as VP and JSD-backed Ruhul Quddus as GS.