Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Vice-President Shadik Kayem said on Tuesday that the Election Commission has shown a “positive stance” on the issue, following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban.

The assurance comes a day after the EC directed all organisations to suspend elections ahead of the national vote and referendum — a move that triggered concern and protests on campuses, especially at SUST.

Kayem argued that blocking student elections weeks in advance is neither logical nor democratic. “Stopping a student council election three weeks earlier on security grounds cannot be justified,” he said, noting that SUST’s poll is scheduled for 20 January and Begum Rokeya University’s for 21 January.

For students, the message from the meeting offers cautious hope; that campus democracy may still find space, even in the shadow of a national election.