Ducsu polls: Shibir announces full panel in first-ever open participation

The Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced a full 28-member panel to contest the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) election, marking its first-ever open participation.

In previous elections, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had reportedly fielded panels secretly but refrained from public campaigning, according to former student leaders. 

During the 1990s, most student organisations reached a consensus against allowing Shibir to take part in politics at Dhaka University. 

Since then, the organisation had remained largely inactive in campus politics until resurfacing publicly after 5 August last year.

For the Ducsu polls scheduled in September, Shibir has nominated Sadiq Kayem for vice-president, the organisation's DU unit president SM Farhad for general secretary, and unit general secretary Mahiuddin Khan for assistant general secretary. 

Fatema Tasnim Juma has also joined the panel from Muktijuddho o Ganatantrik Andolon Inqilab Moncho.

Shibir leaders submitted their nomination papers to the Chief Returning Officer's office and later unveiled the panel at a press conference, where Central General Secretary Nurul Islam Saddam, Office Secretary Sibgatullah and others presented the details. 

"We have attempted to put forward a comprehensive and representative panel of students," said Nurul Islam Saddam.

The panel also includes Iqbal Hayder as secretary of science and technology, Umme Salma as secretary of common room, reading room and cafeteria, and Khan Jasim – who lost an eye in the 2024 July Uprising – as secretary of international affairs. 

Other nominees are Nurul Islam Sabbir for literature and culture, Arman Hossain for sports, Asif Abdullah for student transport, and Shariful Islam Muaz for social services. 

Sajjad Hossain Khan has been nominated for research and publications, Majharul Islam for career development, Abdullah Al Minhaj for health and environment, and Sakhawat Zakaria for human rights and legal affairs.

Thirteen candidates have been named for executive membership. 

They are Shorbomitra Chakma, Imran Hossain, Belal Hossain Apu, Joyen Uddin Sarkar Tonmoy, DU Shibir sports secretary Miftahul Hossain Al Maruf, Majharul Islam Mujahid for international relations, Raisul Islam for differently-abled students, Sabikun Nahar Tamanna and Afsana Akter from the female students' wing, and Shahiur Rahman, Abdullah Al Mahmud, Raihan Uddin and Anas Bin Monir from Students Against Torture.

This is the first time Shibir has openly declared and campaigned with a full panel in Ducsu elections.