Votes, vibes and vacuums: DU, RU, JU buzz with elections, 46 others watch from sidelines

The air on Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Jahangirnagar University campuses is electric, not with monsoon humidity, but with the buzz of campaign posters, fiery speeches, and late-night panel meetings. 

For the first time in years, the spirit of student democracy is alive, as three of Bangladesh’s oldest public universities gear up for long-overdue student union elections.

But just beyond the festive chaos of these three campuses lies a stark silence. In 46 other public universities, the dream of an elected student voice remains locked in legal limbo – no law, no union, no vote.

DU, JU, RU back in the game

After decades of dormancy, student politics is roaring back to life but only in select halls of academia.

At Dhaka University, the cradle of student activism, the DUCSU elections, last held in 2019, are scheduled for September 9. The campus, once a graveyard of political apathy, now pulses with rallies, manifestos, and independent hopefuls stepping into the ring.

Not far behind, Jahangirnagar University (JUCSU) will vote on September 11, and Rajshahi University (RUCSU) on September 15. 

Student organisations are forming panels, students are debating platforms, and even independents are emerging, a sign that the mood is shifting from resignation to rebellion.

“This isn’t just about who wins,” says a third-year RU student. “It’s about reclaiming our right to be heard.”

These three universities, along with Chittagong, BUET, BAU, and SUST, are among the only seven out of 53 public universities in Bangladesh with a legal framework for student unions, rooted in ordinances dating back to 1973. Section 20(1) of their laws explicitly allows for the election of student representatives to the Senate and Syndicate – the highest policy-making bodies.

But here’s the twist: Four of them are still silent.

The silent four: CU, BUET, BAU, SUST - open councils, closed doors

Despite student demands, Chittagong University (CHUCSU), BUET (EUCSU), BAU (BAUCSU), and SUST (SHUCSU) remain in political limbo, student unions exist, but elections do not.

At Chittagong University, student groups like Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, and Biplobi Chhatra Maitri have held protests, rallies, and press conferences demanding “CHUCSU” elections. “We’ve even proposed constitutional reforms,” says Mohammad Ali, CU Shibir president. “But the administration, run by teachers appointed under a caretaker mandate, isn’t moving.”

CU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Yahya Akhtar, insists progress is being made: “The constitution has been amended. An election commission is formed. The schedule will come soon.”

At SUST, students have submitted a six-point memorandum, demanding a timeline within a week. Pro-VC Dr Md Sajedul Karim says the administration is “positive”, but no date is set.

Then there’s BUET, the engineering powerhouse with a long-standing aversion to party politics. Reactions are split. One anonymous student from the 19th batch says, “Nobody wants student politics here. EUCSU means party fights, we don’t need that.” 

But a 23rd batch student counters: “We have associations that work for student welfare. Why can’t we have a non-partisan student parliament?”

46 univs, zero legal rights, total frustration

While the spotlight shines on the seven, 46 public universities, including Jagannath, Comilla, Islamic University, Begum Rokeya, and Barishal,  have no legal provision for student unions. No statute. No syndicate rule. No pathway.

Students in these institutions have launched hunger strikes, protests, and social media campaigns. At Jagannath University, students have demanded action for years. VC Prof Rezaul Karim says a committee is drafting a legal framework, but warns: “We need expert consultation.”

Other VCs, speaking off the record, admit the real bottleneck: no green signal from the Ministry of Education or the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“We can amend our laws through a Syndicate meeting,” says one. “But without government approval, we’re afraid to move.”

The irony? The power is already there

Here’s the kicker: they don’t actually need permission.

According to UGC Chairman Professor SMA Faiz, a former DU Vice-Chancellor, the law already allows it. “Rule 40(1) of the University Act gives universities the power to formulate statutes. If a Syndicate wants, it can create a student parliament framework tomorrow. No UGC nod. No ministry order. Just willpower.”

He calls the absence of student unions in new universities “a flaw in the law” – and a democratic deficit. “A university without student representation is incomplete.”

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, former VP of DUCSU, agrees: “This revival is a positive sign. Student unions aren’t just about politics – they’re about leadership, accountability, and keeping democracy alive in the next generation.”

The big picture: A nation’s future in campus hands

As DU, RU, and JU prepare to vote, the contrast couldn’t be starker. Three campuses are alive with democratic energy. Four are stuck in neutral. And 46 are still waiting for the starting gun.

Will the government step in? Will VCs show courage? Or will another generation graduate without ever casting a vote for their own representatives?

One thing is clear: democracy doesn’t start in parliament, it starts in the canteen, the classroom, and the campus field.

And right now, only a few are getting the chance to practice it.