Despite a long history of women students leading movements at Jahangirnagar University, their presence in the upcoming Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall elections is strikingly low.
For the 13 open posts in JUCSU, 95 students are contestingbut only 11 are women (12%). None of the 10 VP candidates are women, and only 2 of 9 GS candidates are women, though nearly half the university’s students are female.
Across JUCSU and hall councils, 656 candidates are running: 173 women (27%) and 483 men (73%). In the 10 women’s halls, out of 150 posts, 59 have no candidates and 67 have just one. For the six reserved JUCSU seats for women, 35 candidates are competing, compared to 49 for the men’s reserved seats.
Many women cited cyberbullying, harassment, and exclusion as reasons for not running. Fine Arts student Mohana Bashar said, “After the July mass uprising, the level of cyberbullying and slut-shaming was so severe that women fear how much they will have to suffer and how many threats they will face.” JUCSU election commission member-secretary Professor A.K.M. Rashidul Alam admitted cyberbullying has discouraged many.
Panels show the same pattern: the left alliance “Unity of Harmony” fielded the most women (11) but none for the top posts. Chhatra Dal nominated one woman for GS, Shibir had no women beyond reserved seats, and BAGCHAS included two beyond reserved posts. Professor Nahrin Islam Khan noted, “When movements achieve results, these women are quickly pushed to the margins.”
Date of News: 6th September 2025
Source: Prothom Alo
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