Memes, anime, and ‘wartime consigliere’: Gen-Z manifesto spices up Ducsu polls

The manifestos for the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections have long been predictable: demands for more buses, new dormitories, an end to session jams, and a louder student voice.

But in 2025, the language of campaigning is getting a Gen-Z makeover - less political jargon, more memes, anime, and pop culture.

Independent general secretary aspirant Ashikur Rahman has already gone viral for a Facebook post, shared on 20 August, which reads more like an internet thread than a conventional manifesto.

"I'm here to set Ducsu on fire, friends," his declaration begins, before listing a mix of pragmatic demands and wildly creative promises.

Among the promises: easing attendance requirements, addressing women's housing and safety concerns, preventing campus spaces from turning into "parking lots and public toilets", and limiting noisy political rallies inside academic areas.

Then comes the Gen-Z twist: "Anime cosplay festival, regular programming competition, drone-making events (combat and surveillance), etc."

Ashikur, a 2022-23 session student of DU's Department of English, insists he is running with "financial honesty".

In his words: "Only those who invest expect returns. I made no investment here, so I want no returns. Even on 17 July [2024], during the hall occupation, when others were grabbing 'spoils of war', I took nothing."

He makes it clear why students should, and should not, vote for him.

On the plus side, he cites his strategic skills: "Politics has two ways: theory and direct action. While my friends believe in the second, I prefer to meticulously plan everything. I am not a professional politician, which is why I want to work more like a political bureaucrat than a leader. Ducsu GS is basically that kind of role. So I'll be 'The Wartime Consigliere' from Godfather."

He also maintained that he is not involved in any women-related scandal and "no quorum of bhai-brothers".

And then the kicker: "If you're an anime or movie lover, then you must vote for this Otaku."

Independent general secretary aspirant Ashikur Rahman collects nomination form for Ducsu eletion. Photo: Collected

But Ashikur, who currently resides in the university's Surja Sen Hall, is equally candid about his flaws.

"Unresponsive: If you call me late at night, you definitely won't reach me because I sleep early. I don't have a bike to rush over either," he wrote.

He adds a warning to would-be corrupt colleagues.

"Since I can't tolerate injustice or irregularities, if any member indulges in even the smallest corruption, I'll expose them. So, if you're planning a stone-smuggling-style 'all-party unity,' don't vote for me," says Ashikur.

His campaign slogan sums up the vibe.

"This is the Gen-Z era. My posters and campaigns will all be in Gen-Z style. And, a debut should be dynamic. I am what I am. Someone has to be. And, whatever I do, I will do with full gusto."

Talking to The Business Standard, Ashikur said he wrote the manifesto "on an adrenaline rush while travelling back to Dhaka by train from Pabna", and believes it resonates because traditional student leaders have lost credibility.

"Attendance is not that important to attain higher education," he said, vowing to negotiate with the university administration if he gets a mandate from students.

Facebook Post of Ashikur Rahman. Photo: Screengrab

Ashikur said his decision to contest was shaped by disillusionment with traditional student leaders.

"After 5 August [2024], the student leaders have lost credibility for a wide variety of accusations and charges. So, I took the chance to contest in the election despite trusting the student leaders," he explained.

While his manifesto carries humour and satire, his political stance is more straightforward: "If I win, I will stand for any logical demands of the students. And if I lose, I will go back to the study table and continue protesting as an individual activist whenever possible."

Political analysts see this as part of a broader generational shift.

Md Saiful Alam Chowdhury, associate professor at DU's Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, "Our societal political culture and context have changed, which is why the appearance and content of campaign manifestos are changing accordingly."

He pointed out that the 2019 Ducsu election was dominated by traditional campaigning, with leaflets, posters, and loud slogans. In 2025, however, the landscape is different.

"This year's Ducsu is being held after massive political changes, and the internet has made a heavy contribution to that change."

"Netizens and the younger generation are loving the language of memes and satire. This trend can go beyond campuses. In the forthcoming national election, campaigns and manifestos could be heavily influenced by this new style," Saiful added.

Still, questions remain about whether this Gen-Z manifesto style will translate into real policy impact.

Ducsu has limited administrative power, and Ashikur himself admits he sees his role as one of negotiation rather than sweeping reform.

Yet by packaging pragmatic concerns - attendance, safety, and housing - with cosplay and drone festivals, he has turned a typically dry campaign into a viral talking point. For some students, that blend of satire and sincerity is exactly what makes him relatable.

Whether it wins votes is yet to be seen. But one thing is clear: in the 2025 Ducsu elections, memes and manifestos are sharing the same stage.