DUCSU election seen as a test for Bangladesh’s national politics

PARBATTA NEWS DESK

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election will be held on 9 September, according to the Dhaka-based news site BanglaNews24.com.

The election has already been described by analysts as a rehearsal for the next parliamentary polls, with major political parties treating it as a significant test of voter sentiment.

BanglaNews24.com reported that BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Islami Andolan and several other groups have endorsed student panels and launched campaigns on their behalf.

Observers quoted by the outlet said the vote will not remain confined to campus politics. Instead, it could shape political equations and influence voters ahead of the national elections. They pointed in particular to the banned Awami League and its student wing, the Chhatra League, whose absence, they noted, has created a new opening for BNP.

Banned Chhatra League Supporters Turn to “Second-Best” Strategy

Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, both the party and the Chhatra League were banned, the online news portal said. As a result, the Chhatra League has no candidates in this year’s DUCSU contest.

The race now involves panels backed by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Union, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Chhatra Union, Chhatra Moitri, left-wing alliances and independents.

Supporters of the banned Awami League and Chhatra League have mobilised online to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami’s student organisation, Chhatra Shibir, from gaining ground. According to BanglaNews24.com, many have urged voters to treat Chhatra Dal as their “second-best” option.

Awami-leaning activist Omi Rahman Pial openly called for voting for Chhatra Dal to block Shibir. “Remember, the real contest in DUCSU is between Chhatra Dal and Shibir. Chhatra Dal has only one panel. However bad Chhatra Dal may be, it is still ours,” he wrote on Facebook, in comments cited by the news site.

He added: “To preserve Dhaka University’s historic tradition, make Chhatra Dal’s full panel victorious. Let Shibir realise once again that however meticulous their plans, Dhaka University remains forbidden ground for collaborators and killers of 1971.”

A source linked to the banned Chhatra League told the Bangla-language outlet that its supporters would vote for any alternative panel to block Shibir. They consider Chhatra Dal the most viable option and therefore their “second-best” choice.

Chhatra Dal leaders, however, told BanglaNews24.com there has been no negotiation or contact with the banned Chhatra League.

Possible Impact on National Politics

Analysts cited by the news portal suggested that a swing of banned Awami League and Chhatra League supporters toward Chhatra Dal could provide BNP with significant advantages ahead of the national elections.

They argued that if the general support base of the banned Awami League shifts toward BNP, the electoral equation could be transformed in BNP’s favour.

The Jatiya Party, which served as the opposition under Awami League rule, has also moved closer to BNP in an effort to preserve its political relevance, the outlet noted. Other parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Gono Odhikar Parishad and Islami Andolan may face greater pressure as a result.

Analysts interviewed by the site said the DUCSU election is not only about student leadership but also a key test of public sentiment ahead of the national polls. They added that if Awami League and Chhatra League supporters align with BNP, it would mark the beginning of a major shift in national politics.

However, they cautioned that if Chhatra Shibir secures a strong position in DUCSU, its bargaining power would increase in national politics. Islamist parties would gain momentum, and Jamaat-e-Islami could see a boost in its parliamentary vote share, the report said.

Analysts’ Perspectives

Khorshed Alam, associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, told the online outlet that the election would influence national politics, though the extent was unclear.

“It is often called Bangladesh’s second parliament. But it will not be the only decisive factor,” Professor Alam said.

He noted that a democratic student council would gain bargaining power in political negotiations. “If representatives from the democratic front win, they will enjoy greater advantages in discussions,” he said.

On Chhatra Shibir, Professor Alam told the news site: “If Shibir wins, Jamaat-e-Islami will gain legitimacy in society. The middle class will begin to accept or at least no longer reject them. This election will be a test of whether their support is genuine or just social media propaganda.”

He argued, however, that BNP may be the least affected. “Many believe BNP may secure an absolute majority in the next general election. Therefore, DUCSU results may not matter much for them,” he said.

Professor Ainul Islam of Dhaka University’s Political Science Department told BanglaNews24.com there was nationwide interest in the polls, extending even to rural areas.

“There are 40,000 voters here, all from different districts. They have influence in their home areas. So the outcome matters in national politics,” he said.

He added that elected student leaders could play a role in national election campaigns. “If they campaign for a particular party, it will have a significant impact,” Professor Islam said.

But another Political Science professor, Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, argued the opposite.

“This is a student election. It will address student demands. Although Dhaka University elections are important, that does not mean national voters will be influenced,” he told the news portal.

He added: “Students have their own needs, while national elections are linked to the people’s economic emancipation and broader issues. Therefore, one will not affect the other.”

Candidates in Focus

A total of 462 candidates are contesting 28 posts in the DUCSU election, BanglaNews24.com reported. Among them, 48 are running for Vice President (VP), 19 for General Secretary (GS), and 28 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).

From the Chhatra Dal-supported panel “Abid-Hamim-Mayed Parishad,” VP candidate Abidul Islam Khan, GS candidate Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, and AGS candidate Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed are in focus.

A close contest is expected between Chhatra Dal– and Shibir-backed panels. From the Shibir-supported “United Students’ Alliance,” VP candidate Abu Shadik Kayem, GS candidate SM Farhad, and AGS candidate Mohiuddin Khan are standing.

Independent VP candidate Shamim Hossain has also drawn attention, according to the Bangla-language site.

From the Democratic Student Council’s “Anti-Discrimination Students’ Union,” VP candidate Abdul Kader and GS candidate Abu Bakar Mojumdar are competing. From the “Combined Students’ Union,” GS candidate Mahin Sarkar withdrew in support of Mojumdar.

Other notable candidates include VP candidate Umama Fatema from the “Independent Students’ Unity” panel, VP candidate Bin Yamin Molla from Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, and VP candidate Sheikh Tasnim Afroze Imi and GS candidate Meghmallar Basu from the leftist “Resistance Council” panel.