MD ABBAS, SAJJAD HOSSAIN and SAKIB AHMED

Five of eight panels boycotted the long-awaited Jucsu elections yesterday over allegations of irregularities, mismanagement, and vote rigging, even as polling continued from 9:00am to 5:00pm in most centres.

The first polls to Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union in 33 years were held across 224 booths in 21 residential halls, with 11,919 registered voters. University officials said 67 percent votes were cast, while the result are expected to be announced this morning.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel was the first to pull out around 3:30pm. By evening, Sampritir Oikya, Swatantra Angikar Parishad, Songshoptak Parshad, and Socialist Student Front candidates also withdrew themselves and demanded a fresh election.

Remaining in the race were the left-leaning Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad-backed Shikkharthi Oikya Forum, Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed Somonnito Shikkharthi Jote, and Swatantra Shikkharthi Sommilon, a panel of independents.

Calling the boycott “unfortunate for democracy”, Somonnito leaders said they would accept the students’ verdict.

Announcing JCD’s withdrawal, GS candidate Tanjila Hossain Boishakhi said, “We feared from the start that this election would be staged. The ballot papers She At

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