No public university in Bangladesh has announced a date for student council elections, more than eight months after the interim government took office – despite growing pressure from students and slow-moving efforts at a handful of campuses like Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, and Jahangirnagar University.

Following the fall of the Awami League regime in last August, new administrations have been installed across all public universities.

One of the first demands from students under the new regime was the reinstatement of student councils, long seen as a critical platform for student representation and activism. However, progress has been painfully slow, and uncertainty now looms over when, or if, these elections will take place.

According to university administration sources, academic activities are currently ongoing at 55 public universities across the country.

Out of these, only three autonomous universities – Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Jahangirnagar – have initiated any concrete steps toward holding student union elections. The remaining institutions have yet to begin any formal process.

Faced with mounting student pressure, Jahangirnagar and Rajshahi universities have released tentative electoral roadmaps.

Dhaka University has announced a timeline, stating on 15 April that it intends to hold the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election either in the final week of May or the first week of June. However, key components such as the formation of an election commission, finalisation of voter lists, and the official schedule are still pending.

At Chittagong University, discussions stalled after a committee was formed to draft policies for the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU). No further progress has been reported.

Meanwhile, certain institutions face legal and structural roadblocks.

Islamic University’s governing laws do not include provisions for a student council, so no action has been taken there.

Similarly, Jagannath University (JNU) lacked a legal framework for such elections until the syndicate approved a draft policy on 2 January.

Although four months have passed since, no further steps have been taken.

University officials say the draft is currently being translated from English to Bangla, and further action will be taken once the chancellor approves it.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, JNU Vice-Chancellor Prof Rezaul Karim said, “Our university laws do not currently support student council elections, but we are working to amend them. Once the chancellor approves the changes, we will move quickly to hold elections.”

At Dhaka University, sources say the administration has been actively engaging stakeholders since December last year, aiming to ensure a free and fair DUCSU election.

Several committees have been formed, including ones to advise on the electoral process, draft a code of conduct, and revise the student union constitution.

Feedback has been collected from student organisations, independent students, and journalists alike. Still, formal preparations such as the publication of a voter list and the announcement of the election schedule remain incomplete.

Abdul Kader, former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and leader of the Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, told the Daily Sun, “Students have fought against authoritarian control for a long time. We’ve brought about change, and now our first demand in this new era is a functional student council. While university authorities have shown respect for our demands, the pace has been frustratingly slow. If the process drags on any further, students will once again raise their voices.”

At Jahangirnagar University, the administration announced a roadmap for the JAKSU elections on 30 December.

According to that plan, the election schedule was supposed to be announced on 1 February. However, internal disagreements among student groups delayed progress.

The university has since stated that elections will be held in the third week of May, with the schedule to be announced by 30 April – 21 days prior to the vote.

Though the university has formed an election commission, published the draft voter list, and held consultative meetings in halls, the finalisation of the constitution remains pending.

Jahangirnagar University sources insist that the administration is sincere about holding the elections and has completed most procedural tasks. Still, divisions among student groups have slowed progress.

Additionally, since no other universities have set firm dates, JABU is reportedly reluctant to go first, which has added further delay.

Rajshahi University, meanwhile, appears to be more prepared. On 27 February, it announced the roadmap for its RAKSU election.

By 16 April, the university syndicate had approved the new student council constitution and appointed a seven-member election commission led by Finance Department Professor Md Amzad Hossain.

Elections are expected to take place between the third and fourth weeks of June.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib told the Daily Sun, “Most students at our university want the student council elections, although there are a few dissenting voices. We’ve respected the majority view and moved forward with the process. The roadmap has been shared, the constitution amended, and an election commission formed. We hope to announce the final schedule very soon.”

Despite some progress at a few institutions, the broader picture remains one of delay and uncertainty.

With over 50 universities still stalled, students fear that the momentum for democratic representation on campus may be slipping away yet again.

Among the autonomous universities, Chittagong University has shown the least progress.

On 10 December last, the university formed a committee to draft policy for the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU).

Although the committee was supposed to submit its report by 26 January, it has yet to do so. No roadmap for the election has been outlined, fuelling growing concerns about whether the election will take place at all.

The university administration has cited preparations for its upcoming convocation – scheduled for 14 May – as the reason for the delay in finalising the election policy and schedule.

As discussion around the CUCSU election has lost momentum, officials now say elections may be held in December if everything goes according to plan, with a roadmap expected within the next three months.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Yeahia Akhter said, “The current administration is committed to holding CUCSU elections. However, right now, we are extremely busy with the convocation.”

Meanwhile, there has been little to no significant progress regarding student council elections at several major universities, including Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Begum Rokeya University, Comilla University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, and Barishal University, among others.

At some of these universities, students have taken to protest, while others have formed committees either to prepare for elections or to review structural issues. In many cases, the process remains stuck in discussions, with university authorities accused of delaying tactics under various pretexts.

Asked about the situation, Prof Md Anwarul Azim Akhand, vice-chancellor of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, told the Daily Sun, “This year, we are responsible for administering the cluster admission exams, which is a major logistical effort. Once that is complete, we hope to begin the process for student council elections after consulting all stakeholders.”

Student councils dormant for 20-30 years

Since the 1990s, with the exception of two universities, student council elections have remained suspended across Bangladesh’s public universities.

At many of the major institutions, student bodies have been inactive for two to three decades, leaving a significant vacuum in the democratic leadership pipeline.

Records show that the most recent student council election took place at Dhaka University in 2019. Prior to that, BUET held elections in 2001.

No other public university has held student council elections in the 21st century.