DUCSU Election: Sarba Mitra Chakma defends joining Shibir-led alliance

PARBATTA NEWS ONLINE DESK

Sarba Mitra Chakma, a student of Dhaka University’s Sociology Department (2022–23 session), has defended his decision to contest the 2025 Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election from the United Students’ Alliance panel, led by Islami Chhatra Shibir.

The move has drawn criticism since Shibir announced its full panel on Monday, 18 August. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Sarba Mitra responded to the backlash.

“We have formed an electoral alliance called United Students’ Alliance,” he told journalists. “Different ideologies, cultures, and views have come together. We agreed on some specific issues and want to work on those. Our aim is to work for students’ welfare and to secure their basic needs and rights.”

University problems highlighted

The candidate said Dhaka University had been in existence for 104 years but was still struggling with basic issues.

“Even now, seminars are held on ‘what kind of Dhaka University we want.’ Students still face a housing crisis, lack of quality food, and many other problems,” he said.

“Recently, a female student died due to lack of treatment under the farce of so-called health insurance,” he added.

“This is an alliance, not Shibir’s panel”

Addressing criticism, Sarba Mitra insisted that the group was a coalition rather than a Shibir panel.

“What is an alliance? It means diversity. If everyone is of the same sort, then it is not an alliance,” he said.

“But it has been framed as if Shibir alone has given the panel, and as if I memorised 29 Shibir books before joining them. That is not the case. We agreed only on specific electoral issues,” he added.

The candidate also rejected the claim that Shibir would use DUCSU to advance its own ideology.

“DUCSU is not an ideological platform. It is about realising students’ rights,” he told reporters.

“Ten days ago, I criticised Shibir for installing water filters in dormitories. That was the administration’s job, not theirs. I have made such logical criticisms before, and I will continue to do so,” he said.

“So the propaganda that I joined Shibir is very painful for me,” he added.

Identity questioned

Some critics asked why a Chakma candidate would ally with Shibir. Responding, Sarba Mitra said he was participating as a student, not representing his ethnicity.

“I am from the Chakma community, but I am not highlighting that identity. Here I am simply one student among others,” he said.

“A person of one ideology working with people of another ideology—that they cannot accept. But that failure is not mine, it is theirs,” he told journalists.

He further clarified that he had not joined Shibir’s own panel, but a broader alliance.

“When we join an alliance, equity must exist even if I am one and they are ten,” he said. “I should not need permission to speak. In the past I was vocal on “indigenous” and minority rights, women’s rights, and many other issues. I remain so now.”

Statement on Facebook

After announcing his candidacy, Sarba Mitra also posted a statement on Facebook.

He described Dhaka University as “a state within a state” where more than 50,000 students struggled to survive.

“There is no proper learning environment, quality food is hard to find, there is a housing crisis, inadequate research facilities, and a farce in the name of health insurance. Students are dying for lack of treatment. Neglect, deprivation, and despair exist at every step,” he wrote.

Yet he said students carried “a hidden strength that always keeps the state anxious.”

“These people have the capacity to shake the foundations of the state at any time. The great and close example is the July Uprising,” he wrote.

He argued that this was why, in 54 years since independence, DUCSU elections had been held only eight times instead of annually.

“Not aspiring to be a leader”

In his statement, Sarba Mitra said he did not aspire to be a traditional leader.

“I do not aspire to be a so-called ‘leader’ who practises superiority,” he wrote. “Those who come here are the most talented in the country, having fought against hundreds of thousands of competitors. I cannot think of exercising authority over them.”

He concluded: “Since gaining awareness, I have always been vocal on students’ fundamental rights, women’s rights, and “indigenous” and minority rights. Until death, I will remain steadfast against injustice, exploitation, irregularity, and misrule. I believe my distinct identity, honest courage, and your love will keep me inspired.”