Shibir’s Ducsu win a political tremor for New Delhi, says Shashi Tharoor
“For many, it's just a student election in a foreign country. But for New Delhi, this is not just a blip - it is a worrying portent of things to come, a political tremor whose aftershocks could soon be felt on our side of the border,” he wrote
The student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami swept the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections, a stunning victory that marked the first time an Islamist student group has gained control of this influential body since 1971, Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said.
"For many, it's just a student election in a foreign country. But for New Delhi, this is not just a blip - it is a worrying portent of things to come, a political tremor whose aftershocks could soon be felt on our side of the border," he wrote in an opinion piece for NDTV on Friday (12 September).
Tharoor explained that Ducsu polls have historically served as a political barometer for Bangladesh. He noted that the victory of Shibir is "a clear signal of deep-seated public frustration" with the Awami League and the BNP. Both, he said, have become synonymous with corruption, nepotism, and political violence, leaving voters disillusioned.
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He wrote that this shift could have a direct impact on India. A Jamaat-majority government or a powerful coalition presence would complicate ties with New Delhi. Tharoor said it may embolden anti-India elements along the border, raise new security challenges, and worsen the situation of minorities in Bangladesh.
He added that the result should not be read as a wholehearted endorsement of Islamist fundamentalism. Rather, it was a desperate search for alternatives. He said many voters are not religious zealots but see Jamaat as untainted by the failures of the old guard.
Tharoor wrote that the recent removal of Sheikh Hasina's government after a mass student-led uprising and the fragile interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus have created a political vacuum. Jamaat, long suppressed, is now finding space to re-emerge.
He noted that Shibir's victory in Dhaka University, long regarded as a bastion of secular and progressive politics, makes the outcome even more striking. He added that many young voters no longer have memories of Jamaat's controversial role in the 1971 Liberation War.
Looking ahead, Tharoor warned that with Awami League banned and BNP weakened, Jamaat could play a decisive role in Bangladesh's 2026 general elections. Its grassroots networks and its perception of being "clean" could allow it to gain significant ground.
"The Dhaka University election is a wake-up call. India cannot afford to be caught off guard. New Delhi must closely monitor the situation, engage with all emerging actors, and prepare for a scenario where we may no longer have a friendly and stable government in Dhaka." he wrote.
