Islamist grp wins 2nd varsity union election in B'desh

DHAKA: Bangladesh Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing swept the central students union election at the Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Saturday, less than week after its win at the Dhaka University. The Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) won 20 out of 25 positions in the JU Central Students' Union (JUCSU) election, even though it was virtually inactive for nearly 35 years on the JU campus. Of the positions ICS did not win, was the top post of vice president. Abdur Rashid Zitu, who contested from a newly formed group called Swatantra Shikkharthi Sammilon, will hold the post of VP.

Former PM Khaleda Zia BNP backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal panel did not win any post. Student union polls are slated in two other major Bangladesh universities - at Rajshahi University on Sept 25 and Chattogram University on Oct 12. The outcomes of university polls could have far-reaching implications as campus politics has often influenced country's political landscape.