United News of Bangladesh

The Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) election of 2025 isn't just about who wins; it's about a fundamental shift in campus politics. The shift is characterized by a focus on issues, service, and collaboration over traditional ideology and confrontation. This new style, particularly demonstrated by the fresh faces, involves running a continuous "proof-based campaign" highlighting "procedural steps & microresults". The Race for Control: Jote's Scale vs. Oikkoboddo's New Posture According to UNB PLUS data, the contest is primarily between two major panels. The Sommilito Shikkharthi Jote (Shibir) enters as the organized and experienced team , currently commanding the conversation with a strong 58.60% engagement and an "exceptionally clean tone" of 93.75% positivity. The Jote panel, described as disciplined and data-driven, currently leads the overall race. In contrast, the JCD-backed Oikkoboddo Notun Projanmo panel is the face of change, introducing "fresh faces" who are academically strong and politically unscarred. Their candidates including Nur Uddin (VP), Nafiul Islam Jibon (GS), and Zahin Biswas Esha (AGS) are first-time contestants focused on process, policy, and inclusion. Oikkoboddo retains a substantial presence with 36.52% engagement but carries a heavier negative load (15.52%) than Jote, which the analysis suggests they must reduce to win over undecided voters. Read more: RUCSU elections underway after 35 years  Crucially, this JCD-backed group has introduced a new political vocabulary, running a continuous "proof-based campaign" focused on "procedural steps and microresults" like seat-list transparency and Wi-Fi uptime, demonstrating a significant departure from confrontational, older models of student politics. Key Contests: VP Leans Jote, AGS is a "Photofinish" According to UNB PLUS data, while Jote is predicted to take the overall panel with a moderate-to-high confidence, the individual lane races are intense: - Vice President (VP): Mostakur Rahman (Jote) currently leads with 62.29% engagement, holding a sustained margin over Sheikh Nur Uddin (Oikkoboddo) at 36.41%. - General Secretary (GS): Fahim Reza (Jote) leads in reach with 67.28% engagement. However, his opponent, Nafiul Islam Jibon (Oikkoboddo), maintains the highest positive tone of any major candidate at 98.06%. - Assistant General Secretary (AGS): This is the most competitive race, deemed a "photofinish." S M Salman Sabbir (Jote) edges the lead in engagement at 47.89%, while his rival, Zahin Biswas Esha (Oikkoboddo), is right behind at 47.73%. While Esha retains scale, Salman's campaign carries a "far cleaner tone" (95.38% positive vs. Esha's 70.98%), a factor that may prove decisive. Read more: No extra ballots printed for RUCSU election: EC Voter Demand: Fairness and Service Over Ideology The ultimate decider for the election is not ideological loyalty, but a demand for "unity-driven fairness with service visibility". While the election process itself remains the dominant topic (62% of engagement), the "marginal votegetters" are themes of Unity (17.43%) and Services & Facilities (7.58%). Students are seeking leaders who can make the system work by becoming a "bargaining authority" that compels the administration to deliver, ensuring accountability and transparency. The Bigger Picture RUCSU Election 2025 is a test of whether today's students will choose the "comfort of old-school, transactional politics" or back a "longer game" where institutions are made more answerable. No matter the final seat count, the election has already marked a significant turning point, institutionalizing a data-driven, digital-first, and policy-minded student leadership that has successfully changed the tone of politics. Read more: Security heightened ahead of RUCSU polls

The long-awaited elections  to the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), hall unions and student representatives in the university senate are underway today (Thursday) after a 35-year hiatus. This marks the 17th RUCSU election in the 72-year history of Rajshahi University (RU).  Like other public universities in the country, no student union polls have been held at RU since 1990. After several delays and rescheduled dates, students are finally exercising their voting rights to elect their representatives.  The balloting began at 9 am and will continue until 4 pm. No extra ballots printed for RUCSU election: EC Election Commissioner Professor Dr Mustafa Kamal Akand on Wednesday said that no extra ballot papers have been printed for the election. Speaking at a press conference at the university’s Senate Building, he said the RUCSU ballot papers were not printed from any random or nameless press.  “We assigned experienced printers who usually handle university exams or question papers,” he said. “There are 28,901 voters, and we have printed exactly 28,901 ballots,” Dr Kamal added, claiming that there is no scope for any discrepancy. Voting is taking place in 17 centres across nine academic buildings, with a total of 990 booths. Prof Akand said, “We have already procured a sufficient number of watermark reader machines for vote counting. These machines will allow us to publish results within 15 to 17 hours.” He said all election activities are being monitored through CCTV cameras, and transparent ballot boxes are being used. A total of 212 teachers are overseeing the election, including 17 presiding officers and the rest serving as assistant presiding officers.  CUCSU voting underway peacefully amid allegations of irregularities Besides, 91 university officials are performing duties as polling officers. Chief Election Commissioner Prof Dr F Nazrul Islam, Chief Returning Officer Prof Dr Setaur Rahman, and other election commissioners were also present at the briefing. According to the commission, the total number of voters stands at 28,901, including 11,305 female students and 17,595 male students. This time, 247 candidates are contesting 23 posts in the central RUCSU election, while 58 candidates are vying for 5 seats in the university senate. For the hall union polls, 597 candidates are contesting 252 posts across 17 residential halls, with 42 candidates elected unopposed. In the central RUCSU race, 18 candidates are running for vice president (VP), 13 for general secretary (GS), and 16 for assistant general secretary (AGS). To ensure transparency, the university authorities have formed a 10-member committee to monitor the overall conduct of the election, headed by retired economics professor M Rafiqul Islam. For security, around 2,000 police personnel, along with six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 12 teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), have been deployed, said Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian.

Agitating students of Rajshahi University (RU) vandalised the nameplates of four residential halls and a model school on Wednesday night, alleging that they contained "fascist symbols" and renamed  them with new identities. The protest, which began at around 9pm and concluded at 11pm at the university's Joha Chattar, saw students targeting the nameplates of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Sheikh Hasina Hall, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, the under-construction AHM Kamaruzzaman Hall, and Sheikh Russell Model School. The protesters renamed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall as 'Shaheed Raihan Hall,' Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall as 'Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall,' and Sheikh Russell Model School as 'Riyagop Model School.' Sheikh Mujib’s mural, AL office vandalised in Chuadanga RU Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman said, “The administration has no involvement in what happened today. Any official change of hall names would only be made following a syndicate meeting.” The demonstrators accused Sheikh Hasina of being a "fugitive" and claimed the act was aimed at erasing what they termed “cultural traces of a murderer.” Fahim Reza, coordinator of the RU anti-discrimination student movement, said, “The murderer Hasina is trying to revive before the soil stained with the blood of my brothers dries up. We, the revolutionary students of the university, held this programme to erase the cultural traces of the murderer Hasina.”

A Rajshahi University (RU) teacher, who was injured in a road accident, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a Rajshahi hospital early Tuesday. The deceased Purangit Mahalder was an associate professor of the Bangla department of the university. The university’s Pro Vice Chancellor (admin) Prof Mohammad Moin Uddin said Mahalder sustained severe injuries in his head after falling off his motorbike, when he was on his way home from his daughters’ school at Baro Raster Intersection for transportation on Monday noon. Later, he was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Medical Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, he said, adding Mahalder breathed his last around 2am while undergoing treatment. The university administration expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family, he said. Read: 6 killed in separate road accidents in Naogaon, Gazipur, Munshiganj Prof Md Akhtar Hossain Majumdar, administrator at the RU Public Relations Office, said the teacher’s body was kept in front of Shahidullah Arts Building for paying tributes on Tuesday morning. The university’s Bangla Department Alumni Association also expressed shock at the sad demise.

An international conference on the "Role of Science and Technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution" will be held at Rajshahi University from October 5-6, The conference will be organised by the university's Faculty of Science, it informed through a press release on Thursday. Sumon, Faraque elected as ERAB president, general secretary State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam will attend the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Rajshahi University pro-vice-chancellor Prof Sultan-ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir will be present as special guests and Vice-Chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar will preside over the event. According to the press release, researchers from different universities in Bangladesh will present their work at the conference. Researchers from different parts of the world will also attend the conference. Community Digital Storytelling workshop held at Islamic University Key figures from Finland, Japan, India, Australia, China, and Nepal will serve as international advisory members. Apart from the science faculty, renowned people from various institutions in the country will play a role as members of the organising committee. There will be three keynote speakers in the event. They are Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University of India, Dr Gurmeet Singh; Managing Director of Bangladesh Data Soft Systems Limited, Mahbub Zaman; and CEO of Wenrich International, Japan, Uchy Harley Ichihasi, said the release. 10 students receive Sitara Parveen Award for academic excellence in DU’s journalism discipline This international conference will play an essential role in improving the image of the university and the country. Already, 370 researchers have submitted their research. This number will increase. Registration can be done until September 30. Tk 3,000 for professionals and Tk 1,500 for students have been fixed for the registration, it added.

Rajshahi University students today blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway to protest the “attack on them by locals and police” last night. Members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were deployed on the highway to control the situation, UNB’s RU correspondent said. Earlier today, students demonstrated in front of the administration building of the university and locked the building to protest last night’s clash involving locals of Binodpur and the students of Rajshahi University. At least 200 students were injured during the clash. Read more: Over 200 students injured as RU students clash with locals over bus seat The protesting students shouted slogans with their six-point demand, calling for justice. Their demands are: justice for the attack on RU students by locals and police, stopping the entry of outsiders in the university and ensuring safety of the students, ensuring on-campus accommodation for all students, ensuring proper treatment of the injured students, taking necessary measures within 24 hours of the incident, and ensuring student representation in forming university policies. According to the university sources, the students staged a sit-in protest in front of the Senate Building after holding a protest march on the campus to talk with the authorities. Later, they blocked the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Golam Shabbir Sattar, the Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Md. Sultan-Ul-Islam, and Prof. M. Humayun Kabir for two hours in front of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Senate building. Read More: RU student stabbed on campus, 3 held VC Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar urged the students to stop the demonstration. However, the agitating students rejected his request and asked him to solve the issue. Amanullah Khan, a student of Population Science and Human Resource Development department of the university, said, “Police were largely inactive in the incident, rather they threw tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets at us. Taking advantage of their inaction, local thugs attacked us. The agitation will continue if our demands are not met.” At that time, he demanded the resignation of the university’s proctorial body and student advisor.  

Authorities at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) on Thursday formed a five-member panel to probe the death of a Rajshahi University (RU) student in the wake of allegations of lapse on part of doctors. On Wednesday night, Shahriar, the fourth-year student of the university's marketing department, died after allegedly falling off the roof of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall. Brig General Shamim Yeazdani, director of RMCH, said the probe body, headed by Prof Noushad Ali, will investigate the death of Shahriar and "whether there was any lapse or dereliction of duty on part of doctors". The other members of the committee are the university proctor, the student advisor and two additional police commissioners of Rajshahi. The probe body has been asked to submit its report within three working days. After Shahriar fell off the roof of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall of the university on Wednesday night, some students took him to RMCH where he was declared dead on arrival. Also read: Attack on interns: Osmani Medical College students suspend strike A student, named Jahangir, who was at the scene, however, told UNB that Shahriar was taken to the hospital around 8.30pm. "But he was not given treatment till 9.30pm. There was no doctor at the emergency department. Only an intern was there." Meanwhile, Shahriar's classmates vandalised the hospital as the doctors did not come on time. That led to a scuffle between the students and the medical interns. Later, the interns embarked on an indefinite strike, protesting the attack on them by some students of RU. On the other hand, the RU students thronged the area and demanded punishment against the attackers. Both sides dispersed subsequently.  

A student of  Rajshahi University  has been assaulted allegedly by some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Madar Bux Hall as he asked them not to smoke in the television room. The victim is Shahabuddin Ahmed, a master’s student of Bangla department, who works for online news portal www.bdmorning.com and is also a member of Rajshahi University Journalist Association (RUJA). Also read: Tension mounts as BCL, JCD clash at DU Witnesses said RU BCL Madar Bux Hall unit vice president Giasuddin Kajol along with two of his fellow activists beat up Shahabuddin as objected to his smoking in the television room while watching an IPL match on Sunday night. “While watching the cricket match, Giasuddin Kajol, a fourth-year student of History department, started smoking cigarettes, making him and the others feel uncomfortable,” alleged Shahabuddin. Later, Shahabuddin was taken to the university medical centre for primary treatment. Professor Ashabul Haque, proctor of the university said, “We will take necessary steps against the accused after an investigation.” Meanwhile, RU-based journalists staged a sit-in at night in front of the vice-chancellor's residence demanding immediate action against the BCL men and the removal of the Madar Bux Hall provost. Later, the journalists withdrew their sit-in programme at around 2 am after the pro-vice-chancellor Professor Sultan-Ul-Islam assured them of meeting their demands by Monday. Also read:DU student assaulted ‘by BCL man’ for not offering salam Nuruzzaman Khan, president of Rajshahi University Journalist Association, alleged that he along with his fellow journalists contacted the hall provost several times over phone, but he did not respond to their call. “Instead of coming to the hall and taking necessary steps to solve the problem, the hall provost made the journalists wait in front of the hall gates for three hours, and later refused to come down”, Nuruzzaman added.

Two student leaders of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Rajshahi University were injured as the men of Bangladesh Chhatra League of that university allegedly attacked them. The incident took place on Monday afternoon at the Chhatra Dal's party tent adjacent to the 'Buddhijibi Chattar' of the university. Among them, Zakir Rezwan, a member of the convening committee of Chhatra Dal and MA Taher Rahman, joint convener, were injured and being treated at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. According to eyewitness sources, the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal were sitting in their own party tent. Suddenly, Kabiruzzaman Ruhul, president of BCL at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Sakhawat Hossain Shakil, vice-president of BCL at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall, along with some 10 or 12 BCL men attacked them. At that time the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal could not resist and fled quickly. READ: BCL activists clash with villagers near CU campus In this regard, the convener of the university branch Chhatra Dal Sultan Ahmed Rahi said, "When the members of our convening committee entered the campus for some academic works, some of the leaders and activists of BCL attacked our men and left two seriously injured." "Chhatra League is a terrorist organization. We demand a ban on this organization," Rahi added. Kabiruzzaman Ruhul, president of BCL at  Bangabandhu hall of the university said to UNB, "We heard Chhatra Dal men planning to make the campus unstable and we got them out of the campus." Shakhawat Hossain Shakil, vice-president of BCL at Shaheed Suhrawardy hall told UNB that they attacked them for trying to cause chaos on the campus. It is our duty to resist any of the chaotic activities at the campus, that's why we get them out of the campus, Shakil added.

With Rajshahi University authorities deciding to keep the residential halls closed during the Eid vacation from April 27 to May 7, many students are in troubled waters. These students told UNB that the decision to keep the residential halls closed has left them in shock, given the fact that many of them belong to far-away places and just can't afford to travel to their homes for such a short vacation. Partho Sarothy, a student of RU’s theatre department, said the university authorities must not take such "drastic steps" during festivals like Eid. Read: Decision on PEC exams to be taken 3 months before schedule: State Minister “My final exams are slated for May 15. The halls are closed till May 8. It may not be possible for me to complete my revision within just seven days of returning to the hall," said Partho, who stays in Suhrawardy hall. Delwar Hossain, a master’s student of the applied chemistry and chemical engineering department, said, "I wanted to stay on the campus during the festival to prepare for this year's BCS examination. But the authorities have made my life miserable to some extent." Professor Sultan Ul Islam Tipu, pro-vice-chancellor of the university, said, “Earlier, we never received any complaints from the students about the closure of halls during the Eid vacation. Hope to take into account the demands of the students next year." Read: 471 teachers recommended for recruitment in govt-aided pvt schools Fortunately, some major public universities, including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Begum Rokeya University, Sher E Bangla Agricultural University, and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, will keep their dormitories open during the Eid vacation.