HC Stays Sucsu Polls for Four Weeks; Students Pledge to Continue Protest

The High Court has stayed the scheduled central students’ union (Sucsu) and hall union elections at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) for four weeks, prompting students to announce that their protest will continue.

The order was issued by a bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan following a hearing on a writ petition seeking the suspension of the elections.

Following the hearing this morning, students began protesting. Around 2:00 PM, they blocked the Sylhet–Sunamganj regional highway in front of the university’s main gate and continued their demonstration.

The protesters stated that both the blockade and their movement would continue until the elections are allowed to proceed.

Yesterday (January 18), Sucsu vice-president candidate Mominur Rashid Shuvo filed the writ petition requesting the High Court to halt both the union and hall elections. The petition named the chief election commissioner and other relevant authorities as respondents.

The writ argued that the Election Commission had previously issued directives to suspend all elections ahead of the national parliamentary polls, making the Sucsu election legally invalid under those directives.

During the protests, students chanted slogans rejecting attempts to disrupt the election process and voiced opposition to a sit-in staged by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in front of the Election Commission headquarters.

After a 28-year hiatus, the Sucsu election was scheduled to be held tomorrow (Tuesday).