SUST students announce complete shutdown demanding SUCSU polls

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Saturday renewed their protests demanding the election of the university’s Central Students’ Union (SUCSU), announcing a complete shutdown of all academic and administrative activities until the polls are held.

Protest leaders said the shutdown would begin on Sunday and continue until the SUCSU election is conducted.

The announcement was made in the afternoon by Delwar Hasan Shishir, vice-presidential candidate of Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Durbar SUSTian Oikya panel. 

He said the decision followed discussions with class representatives from all departments.

“Our movement will continue until SUCSU election is ensured. The election must be held before the national election,” Shishir said.

Earlier in the day, students brought out a protest march around 5:00 PM. The procession began at Gol Chattar, passed through Shah Paran Hall area and briefly staged a sit-in at Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall. It later moved to Chetona-71, marched past the female residential halls and concluded in front of the university’s administrative building.

During the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans such as “SUCSU cannot be shut down by mobs,” “SUCSU cannot be shut down from Dhaka,” and “I have a plan, SUCSU ban.”

Participants in the march included VP candidate Delwar Hasan Shishir, GS candidate Mujahidul Islam, independent GS candidate Palash Bakhtiar, Junayed Ahmed, Faisal and Bangla Department student Abu Saleh Md Nasim, among others.

Voting in SUCSU election, scheduled for January 20 after a 28-year hiatus, was suspended following a writ petition filed by two candidates and a student. 

On January 19, the High Court ordered a four-week stay on the election process.

SH