Shadikh Kayem & Shibir’s Rise: The New DUCSU Panel’s Big Win and Higher Hopes

After a gap of several years, Dhaka University’s Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has emerged from the shadows of delay and tension with its latest election held on 9 September 2025. The polls returned a sweeping victory for the Shibir-backed Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote (United Students’ Alliance) panel, marking not just a political shift, but a renewal of student engagement and expectation.

Here are the top 10 newly elected members — those in key leadership positions — their backgrounds, and what their election signals going forward.

Top 10 Key Winners

These ten are particularly important because they occupy the highest and most influential posts in the DUCSU. Their performance will shape student life, campus politics, and how DUCSU responds to student needs.

Position	Winner	Affiliation / Panel	Votes / Notable Margin	Why It Matters
Vice President (VP)	Md. Abu Shadik Kayem (aka Shadik Kayem)	Shibir-backed United Students’ Alliance	14,042 votes — big lead over Abidul Islam Khan (JCD) who had ~5,708	As VP, he’ll be visible on nearly every issue — safety, campus amenities, disciplinary matters. His win shows strong grassroots support.
General Secretary (GS)	S. M. Forhad	Same panel (Shibir-backed)	10,794 votes; besting the rest by a significant margin.	GS handles the union’s day-to-day affairs. Effectively acts like a COO for student issues — class scheduling, student grievances, coordination.
Assistant General Secretary (AGS)	Md. Mohiuddin Khan	Shibir-backed panel	11,772 votes	AGS often manages tasks delegated by VP or GS; powerful post especially in mobilizing students and managing execution.
Liberation War & Democratic Movements Secretary	Fatema Tasnim Juma	United Students’ Alliance / Inqilab Mancha affiliate	~10,631 votes	Symbolic and political — this position connects student identity with national history and issues of democracy.
Science & Technology Secretary	Iqbal Haider	Same alliance	~7,833 votes	Will be crucial for tech-driven demands: lab equipment, internet, online learning, student technological infrastructure.
Common Room, Reading Room & Cafeteria Secretary	Umme Salma	United Students’ Alliance panel	~9,920 votes	Quality of campus life often hinges on these amenities — clean common spaces, functional cafeteria, study rooms.
International Affairs Secretary	Jasim Uddin Khan	Same panel	~9,706 votes	In a more globalized campus, this post bridges with international students and global issues, collaborations, exchange programs.
Sports Secretary	Arman Hossain	United Students’ Alliance	~7,255 votes	Sports improves health, campus bonding, and morale — but often under-funded or neglected; this role has great potential.
Student Transport Secretary	Asif Abdullah	United Students’ Alliance	~9,061 votes	Transport in Dhaka is always a critical issue. Students often suffer in commuting; this role can make or break accessibility.
Health & Environment Secretary	M. M. Al Minhaj	United Students’ Alliance	~7,038 votes	Environmental issues—waste, green space, pollution—and health concerns (sanitation, services) are hot topics. Responsible leadership here will earn trust.

Other Noteworthy Winners & Inclusivity

Human Rights & Legal Affairs – Sakhawat Zakaria from the Shibir panel, who secured high votes in this category.
Independent candidates also won in some secretary-level posts: Literature & Cultural Affairs, Social Welfare, Research & Publication.
A visually-impaired student, Raisul Islam, was elected as an executive member, bringing needed representation for students with disabilities.

What This Victory Signals

Dominance of the Shibir-backed Panel
winning 23 out of 28 seats is a landslide. It signals both popular support for that panel’s messaging (which seems connected to concerns over democracy, student rights, representation) and perhaps dissatisfaction with alternatives.
Students Want Tangible Change
The top posts’ winners reflect issues that matter to daily student life — facilities, rights, transport, environment. Not just ideological slogans. The margin of victory suggests that promises of improvement mattered.
New Faces, New Expectations
Many of the winners are young, some marginalized, or from less-heard backgrounds (like Raisul with disability). That ups the stakes — students will expect action, not just speeches.
Higher Scrutiny & Demand for Accountability
With such a mandate, the new panel can’t afford to be complacent. Students yesterday protested for representation; today they want performance. Commitments on accessibility, infrastructure, fairness etc. will be watched closely.

Challenges Ahead

Translating Promise into Policy & Action: Having the title is one thing; implementing changes (budgeting, university bureaucracy, state policies) is harder.
Managing Expectations: With landslide support comes high expectations, maybe unrealistic ones. Balancing priorities – some urgent (transport, health), some long-term (academic reform, environment) — will be tricky.
Maintaining Unity in the Panel: Even within the dominant alliance, there will be differences. Collaboration will matter.
Engagement Beyond Politics: Many students want their leaders to focus on academic support, mental health, disabled access, digital infrastructure — less “big speeches”, more service.

Why This Matters Beyond DU’s Campus

DUCSU has historically been a bellwether of student political sentiment in Bangladesh. What happens here often echoes in national politics.
The visible inclusion of diverse students (disabled, female leaders, etc.) can shift how student unions across other universities think about representation.
Pressing issues at DU (environment, transport, health) mirror larger urban challenges. If leaders succeed here, their strategies might scale or inspire elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 DUCSU election represents a turning point: a political reset after several years without student representation, a mandate for leaders to focus on real-life student problems, and a signal that students want both voice and delivery.

For the top 10 leaders listed above, the question is no longer how to win, but what to do with the win. The campus is watching — and so is the nation.