JnUcsu election: Voting ends, counting begins

Voting in the Jagannath University Central Student Union (JnUcsu) election has concluded, and vote counting began shortly after 6:00pm at the university's central auditorium.

Election Commissioner Prof Zulfiker Mahmud said voter turnout in the JnUcsu election stood at around 65 percent, while turnout in the hall union election was recorded at 77 percent.

Speaking about the counting process, Prof Zulfiker said, "Ballot papers will first be manually screened to check whether there are any marks other than a cross. If any symbol other than a cross is found next to a candidate's name, the vote for that post will be cancelled," he said.

Voting began at 9:00am and officially continued until 3:30pm. However, long queues were seen at several department-based centres, including Economics and Islamic Studies, even after the cut-off time. Those voters were allowed to cast their ballots after the deadline.

After polling ended, ballot boxes from all centres were brought to the central control room at the university's central auditorium. The counting process is being displayed live on three LED screens installed at different locations across the campus. Curious students were seen gathering in front of the screens to watch the proceedings.

Although most students left the campus following the administration's directives after casting their votes, many were seen lingering in the vicinity.

During a visit to the area around 5:30pm, activists of various political organisations and general students were seen gathered at the Bangla Bazar intersection near the second gate and around Bahadur Shah Park near the main gate. Roadside tea stalls adjacent to the campus were also abuzz with students.

Activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were seen taking positions on opposite sides near the main gate. Meanwhile, a group of students was seen singing and playing music near the second gate.

"I came here around 3:00pm after casting my vote. But I don't feel like going home yet; I am enjoying the festive atmosphere of the election," Maksudul Hasan Sabuj, a third-year student of the Law department, told The Daily Star around 5:00pm.

Assistant Proctor Mohammad Saleh Uddin told The Daily Star around 5:00pm, "For the sake of overall security, students were instructed to leave the campus immediately after voting."

"Only journalists, observers, presiding officers, candidates, polling agents, authorised volunteers, and law enforcement members will be allowed inside the campus until the results are published," he added.

A total of 16,649 voters were registered to cast their ballots at 39 centres and 178 booths. Results are expected to be announced later today after counting through OMR machines.