Dhaka, September 10, 2025 — The recent Dhaka University elections have brought a major shift to student politics on campus. Candidates backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, claimed key victories in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) polls.
The elections were held after a six-year gap and recorded a 78% turnout from nearly 40,000 eligible students. Voting took place across eight centers under what officials described as a festive and orderly atmosphere.
Abu Shadik Kayem, contesting from the “Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote” panel, was elected Vice President. He secured 14,042 votes, defeating Abidul Islam Khan of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s panel, who received 5,708 votes. Independent candidate Umama Fatema finished third with 3,389 votes.
For the General Secretary post, SM Farhad from the same Shibir-backed panel won with 10,794 votes. Another Shibir affiliate, Md Mohiuddin Khan, was elected Assistant General Secretary. Results were officially announced from the Senate Bhaban.
Both Shadik and Farhad have long-standing roles within Shibir’s Dhaka University unit. Their win marks the first time Shibir-supported candidates have taken top DUCSU positions since Bangladesh’s independence. Shibir had been banned from the campus since 1990, but regained visibility after last year’s political changes that followed Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power.
The results sparked immediate backlash from rivals. Abidul Islam Khan rejected the outcome, calling it a “planned farce.” Independent candidate Fatema also alleged rigging in a late-night social media post, accusing the university administration of bias.
This DUCSU election is the ninth since 1971, excluding the annulled 1973 vote. Historically, student politics at Dhaka University shifted between leftist groups in the 1970s, the Chhatra League in later decades, and Chhatra Dal in several contests. The 2025 outcome reflects the changing political dynamics in Bangladesh and the growing influence of Shibir-backed candidates.
For more details, read the full story here: Maduro decrees Christmas in October for Venezuela.
