Rajshahi, Aug 31 (V7N) – For the first time in the 63-year history of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), a female student is contesting for the position of Vice President (VP). Tasin Khan, a student of the Institute of Education and Research from the 2020–21 academic session, has officially declared her candidacy.
 
Tasin's decision to run was inspired by her active involvement in recent anti-discrimination movements on campus. Reflecting on her motivation, she stated, “During the July movement, I worked as a coordinator and came face to face with the threat of death. After returning to normal life, I felt it was important to participate in this historic moment of the RUCSU election. After consulting with close peers, I decided to run for VP.”
 
Although RUCSU was established in 1962, no female candidate had ever contested for the VP post until now. The union has not held elections since 1989, making this year’s polls particularly significant. Tasin remains the only female VP candidate in the upcoming election, set to take place after a 35-year gap.
 
Despite the historic nature of her candidacy, Tasin expressed concerns over the electoral environment. “There are ideological tensions, and some student organizations are directly participating in the election. The university administration has yet to show proactive engagement. A cyberbullying response cell has been proposed but is not yet operational. The Election Commission must ensure that both voters and candidates can coexist safely during the election period,” she added.
 
The distribution of nomination forms for RUCSU took place from August 24 to 28, and the submission deadline is between September 1 and 4. Voting is scheduled for September 25.
 
The upcoming RUCSU election marks a potential turning point in the student body’s democratic participation, with Tasin’s candidacy symbolizing a new chapter of gender representation in campus politics.
 
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