Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Tuesday announced a sit-in programme demanding the holding of the Central Students’ Union (SUSTCSU) elections.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the university’s central library on Tuesday at 2pm.
Speaking at the event, students said due to the long gap in holding student union elections during the authoritarian period, students have been deprived of practicing democracy, developing leadership, and claiming their rights.
This has led to administrative arbitrariness, neglect of student issues, and monopolization of student politics, students opined.
They also said that despite repeatedly submitting peaceful requests to the university administration for the elections, and receiving multiple verbal assurances, no concrete action has been taken so far.
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The students noted that through a human chain on October 19 they gave the administration a 48-hour ultimatum to announce a roadmap for the elections but no response was given within the deadline.
In response, they declared, “From 2pm on Wednesday (October 22), we will hold a peaceful sit-in in front of the administrative building.”
Representatives of various student political organisations, volunteer and cultural groups, and students from multiple departments attended the press conference.