Shibir sweeps Ducsu polls in historic shift

For the first time since Bangladesh's independence, a panel backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir secured a thumping victory in Ducsu polls on Tuesday, clinching 23 of 28 central posts in a dramatic shift in campus politics.

The Shibir-backed "Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote" panel won the top three positions by a landslide: Abu Shadik Kayem as vice president; SM Farhad as general secretary; and Mohiuddin Khan as assistant general secretary.

Thousands of students cast their votes in the Ducsu and hall union elections, held amid festivity and excitement after a six-year hiatus.

Shadik bagged 14,042 votes, far ahead of rival Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed Abidul Islam Khan, who polled 5,708, according to results declared yesterday morning at Dhaka University's Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.

Independent candidate Shameem Hossain came third with 3,883 votes, followed by fellow independent Umama Fatema with 3,389, and Boishommo Birodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad nominee Abdul Kader with 1,103.

Shadik, immediate past president of Shibir's DU unit, and Farhad, who is currently holding the post, were both active in last year's student-led July uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina's fall on August 5.

Farhad stormed to the GS post with 10,794 votes, leaving JCD-backed Shaikh Tanvir Baree Hamim trailing with 5,283. Left alliance candidate Meghmallar Bosu bagged 4,949, independent Arafat Chowdhury got 4,044, and Boishommo Birodhi-backed Abu Baker Mojumdar secured 2,131.

In the AGS race, Shibir's Mohiuddin Khan won with 11,772 votes, well ahead of JCD's Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed, who polled 5,064.

Shibir leaders, who had been virtually banned from Dhaka University following HM Ershad's fall in 1990, began appearing openly on campus just a month after last year's uprising. It was then that Shadik and Farhad publicly revealed themselves as Shibir's DU unit president and general secretary.

POST-RESULT STATEMENTS

At a briefing after the results, Shadik said, "This is not a victory of any camp, nor of Shadik or Farhad. It is essentially the victory of the students. From today until I complete my duties, every student of Dhaka University will serve as my adviser. If I make mistakes or take a wrong step, I urge the students to correct me immediately, even if through criticism. That will help me stay on the right path."

Meanwhile, JCD candidate Abid rejected the results in a Facebook post early yesterday, calling the election "rigged" and a "farce." Later in the afternoon, he wrote that he would continue his journey and try to fulfil the pledges in his manifesto.

"I have come quite close, but perhaps I could not reach everyone. Yet I want to assure you, my journey does not end here -- there is still a long way to go."

Independent candidate Umama Fatema also rejected the polls.

In a 3:24am post, the former spokesperson of Students Against Discrimination wrote: "Boycott! Boycott! I hereby reject Ducsu." She added, "A shamelessly rigged election. After August 5, the Dhaka University administration has brought shame upon the nation -- an administration run by Shibir loyalists."

Abu Baker Mojumdar also alleged rigging, claiming ballots at some centres were pre-filled.

OTHER OFFICE BEARERS

Shibir activists won nine out of 12 secretariat posts. Independents took the other three: Sanjida Ahmed Tonni as research and publication secretary, Musaddik Ali Ibne Mohammad as literature and culture secretary, and Jubair Bin Nesary as social welfare secretary. Tonni's bloodied face during a BCL attack on July 15 became one of the iconic images of the uprising.

From the Shibir-backed panel, Fatima Tasnim Zuma was elected liberation war and democratic movement secretary; Iqbal Haider science and technology secretary; Umme Salma common room, reading room and cafeteria secretary; Jashimuddin Khan international affairs secretary; Arman Hossain sports secretary; Asif Abdullah student transport secretary; Mazharul Islam career development secretary; MM Al Minhaz health and environment secretary; and Md Jakaria human rights and legal secretary.

Of the 13 member posts, Shibir took 11. Winners included Sabikun Nahar Tamanna, Sarba Mitra Chakma, Imran Hossain, Mosammat Afsana Akhter, Tajinur Rahman, Raihan Uddin, Miftahul Hossain Al-Maruf, Anas Ibn Munir, Belal Hossain Apu, Raisul Islam and Shahinur Rahman. The remaining two seats went to Hema Chakma of the left-leaning "Pratirodh Parshad" and independent Umma Uswatun Rafia.

HOW THEY FARED IN HALLS

The races for VP and GS posts turned into clean sweeps for Shadik and Farhad. Shadik defeated Abidul by 8,334 votes, while Farhad beat Hamim by 5,511. Both won in 17 of 18 residential halls, firmly establishing their dominance.

Notably, they topped the vote in all five women's halls -- traditionally considered weak zones for Shibir -- marking a significant shift in campus politics. Shadik also outpaced Farhad by roughly 3,250 votes and secured more than triple the tally of his panel's lowest performer.

Jagannath Hall, reserved for minority students, proved the lone exception. There, Abidul won the VP race with 1,276 votes against Shadik's 10. In the GS contest, Meghmallar Bosu topped the tally with 1,170 votes, while Farhad managed just five -- a stark contrast to trends elsewhere.

A HISTORY OF DUCSU

Since independence, Ducsu polls have been held eight times. No result was declared in 1973 after ballot snatching marred the election, while leftist-backed panels won the top two posts in 1972, 1979, 1980 and 1982.

In 1989 polls, the Chhatra Sangram Parishad-backed panel won all 20 positions.

The next year, the Chhatra Dal panel swept all 20 Ducsu posts. Aman Ullah Aman was elected VP while Khairul Kabir Khokon was elected GS.

In 2019, quota movement leader Nurul Huq Nur was elected VP from the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad panel, while its Akhtar Hossain won the social welfare secretary post. The Chhatra League panel secured 23 out of 25 Ducsu posts, including that of GS, that year.

After Ershad's fall, Paribesh Parishad -- a platform of DU authorities and student representatives -- banned Shibir activities.

During the 16 years of Awami League rule, incidents of assault on individuals suspected of being affiliated with Shibir were frequent in various residential halls.

Islami Chhatra Shibir is a student organisation backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's independence and sided with the Pakistan army in 1971. Its predecessor, Islami Chhattra Shangha, formed Al-Badr and took part in the killing of Bangalee intellectuals, including DU teachers, in the final days of the war.