Gen-Z creativity lights up final day of Ducsu campaigns
The campus was flooded with campaign materials, some of which students are collecting as souvenirs due to their unique designs rather than for the voting appeal today (7 September).
On the final day of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) campaigning, candidates turned to legal notices, dollar-themed flyers, bookmarks, playing cards and even Gen-Z pop culture aesthetics in a bid to draw attention.
A total of 471 candidates are vying for 28 Ducsu posts.
The campus was flooded with campaign materials, some of which students are collecting as souvenirs due to their unique designs rather than for the voting appeal today (7 September).
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Legal notice tactic
Mahadi Hasan Monna, popularly known as `Manobadhikar Munna,' a candidate for the post of human rights and law secretary, grabbed attention with legal notices distributed among voters.
Targeting "the most beautiful women and handsome men" on campus, Munna's notice stated, "You are hereby informed that although Dhaka University teaches human rights, structural and institutional conflicts continue to violate students' rights. Munna seeks to continue the fight for rights as he did in the past."
Munna didn't stop there—he also distributed butterfly-shaped flyers containing his manifesto, particularly designed to attract female voters.
Gen-Z campaign style
Independent member candidate Samsudoha Nawab designed his flyers in the style of the iconic Breaking Bad poster. His leaflet featured the phrase "Let Him Cook on 9 September" along with his ballot number "162" and a QR code at the bottom.
Student front–backed VP candidate Abidul Islam Rana turned to East Asian inspirations, distributing leaflets in Korean and Japanese styles.
He also handed out bookmarks inspired by Studio Ghibli and Vincent Van Gogh's timeless painting The Starry Night.
Another bookmark series featured Dhaka University's historic Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture and Michael Madhusudan Dutt's Meghnad Badh Kabbya, overlaid with his widely quoted line from the July Uprising at Chankharpul, "Please, don't leave anyone behind."
Dollar, Taka-inspired leaflets
At Sir AF Rahman Hall, independent VP candidate Naimur Rahman made waves by distributing leaflets designed like US dollar notes. As his ballot number is "1", he created flyers in the style of one-dollar bills.
The design featured "Federal Reserve Note" at the top, with "DUCSU and Hall Union Election 2025" in the centre, alongside a QR code that leads directly to his Facebook profile.
The bottom of the flyer read "One Dollar", symbolising his ballot number.
Meanwhile, Ducsu central member candidate Arafat Hossain distributed campaign material styled as Bangladeshi banknotes.
His Tk1,000-inspired leaflet replaced "Bangladesh Bank" with "DUCSU Vote Bank", and the traditional governor's signature area with his campaign tagline: "Effective member candidate Md Arafat Hossain."
Beyond these examples, many other candidates experimented with innovative campaign materials in a bid to win over the student electorate.
According to the schedule, students will cast their votes for 28 Ducsu posts and 13 hall union posts, 41 positions in total, on Tuesday (9 September).
