‘My Man’ Politics Plagued Chatra Dal’s DUCSU Election Campaign

The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel, “Aikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jot,” secured a landslide victory in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, while the Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal panel suffered a crushing defeat, failing to win any of the 28 available posts. This marks the second consecutive DUCSU election where Chatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), known as its vanguard, has failed to secure a single position. A similar debacle occurred in the 2019 DUCSU election, widely perceived as controlled by the Awami League.

Sources indicate that a month before the election, during the initial phase of nomination form distribution, Chatra Dal was uncertain about participating, with no clear signal from the BNP leadership. Around mid-August, less than a month before the polls, a meeting with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman decided to field relatively junior candidates with strong ties to regular campus students. Consequently, Chatra Dal selected Abidul Islam Khan, joint general secretary of Dhaka University Chatra Dal, for Vice President (VP), and Tanvir Bari Hamim, convener of Kabi Jashim Uddin Hall Chatra Dal, for General Secretary (GS). Although senior leaders had prepared to contest and some collected nomination forms, they later withdrew.

The defeat is attributed to inadequate preparation and poor planning, leading to a lack of coordination between leaders and candidates. However, the most discussed factor is internal factionalism and the marginalization of capable leaders, which sources within Chatra Dal cite as a major reason for the electoral rout. Many within the organization are now demanding new central and Dhaka University committees, arguing that the current leadership should resign for their failure to reorganize and strengthen the organization in the year following the fall of the Awami League government.

BNP leaders have stated that the DUCSU election loss, along with various shortcomings and incidents, will be reviewed. Based on stakeholders’ input, changes to Chatra Dal’s leadership may be made if necessary.

Allegations have surfaced that “my man” politics—favoring loyalists over merit—permeated both the central and Dhaka University Chatra Dal committees, as well as their DUCSU panel. This led to prioritizing loyalists of top leaders over competent candidates, resulting in relatively new, inexperienced, or opportunistic individuals securing panel positions at the expense of dedicated activists. This internal favoritism, coupled with a failure to gauge the pulse of ordinary students, significantly impacted the election outcome. The organization’s lack of student-friendly campus programs and ineffective outreach to non-residential students further contributed to the defeat.

As Chatra Dal’s primary unit, the Dhaka University branch is heavily influenced by BNP, with decisions on committee formation and dissolution controlled by a few senior BNP leaders, many of whom are former Chatra Dal leaders now holding key party positions.

The DUCSU panel was dominated by loyalists of central and Dhaka University Chatra Dal leaders. Notably, competent leaders from external factions were sidelined, resulting in a 28-member panel filled with inactive or new faces, while a significant portion of dedicated activists were excluded or undervalued. For instance, Md. Jarif Rahman, who secured 2,183 votes for a member post—placing second among Chatra Dal’s member candidates—was considered highly capable but relegated to a member role due to not aligning with the central president or general secretary’s faction. Sources suggest his qualifications warranted at least a secretarial post.

The panel’s VP candidate, Abidul Islam Khan (2015-16 session), was backed by central senior joint general secretary Shyamal Malum. Sources claim that had Abid won, Malum would have lobbied for a top central Chatra Dal position. Similarly, GS candidate Tanvir Bari Hamim (2018-19 session), known for campus volunteer work, was supported by Dhaka University Chatra Dal president Gonesh Chandra Shaha, general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, and organizing secretary Md. Nur Alam Bhuiyan Imon, who aided his personal campus initiatives. Had Hamim won, they reportedly planned to push him for a top Dhaka University Chatra Dal post, while themselves eyeing central leadership roles. AGS candidate Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed (2018-19 session), convener of Bijoy Ekattor Hall Chatra Dal, was backed by central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

Of the 28 DUCSU posts, Chatra Dal fielded candidates for 27, leaving the research and publication secretary post vacant in honor of Sanjida Ahmed Tanvir, injured in the July movement. Allegations of position-sharing persist, with central president Rakib’s loyalists, including health and environment secretary Anwar Hossain, literature and culture secretary Abu Hayat Md. Zulfiqar Jisan, and members Nahid Hasan, Samsul Haq Anan, and Ibn Ahmad, contesting under his influence. Nasir’s loyalists included science and technology secretary Ehsanul Islam, international affairs secretary Md. Mehedi Hasan, and member Ranjun Roy. Dhaka University president Gonesh Chandra Shaha’s loyalist was member candidate Md. Shamim Rana, while general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon backed library and cafeteria secretary Chemon Faria Islam Meghla and member Mahmudul Hasan. Organizing secretary Md. Nur Alam Bhuiyan Imon’s supporters included human rights and law secretary Md. Mehedi Hasan Munna, student transport secretary Md. Saif Ullah (Saif), sports secretary Chim Chimya Chakma, and members Meherunnesa Keya and Nityananda Pal.

Other loyalists included freedom struggle and democratic movement secretary Ariful Islam and member Yasin Arafat Alif (backed by central senior vice president Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahya), social service secretary Syed Imam Hasan Anik (backed by Dhaka University vice president Anisur Rahman Khandaker Anik), and career development secretary Md. Arkanul Islam Rupok and member Md. Hasibur Rahman Sakib (backed by senior joint general secretary Nasir Uddin Shaon). Member Munaim Hasan Arup was backed by organizing secretary Md. Amanullah Aman, and member Md. Jarif Rahman aligned with information and research secretary Mahmud Islam Kajol. Even capable candidates like member Sowaib Islam Omi, backed by Shyamal Malum, were limited to member roles due to not aligning with the central president or general secretary.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu told The Daily Campus, “Firstly, we congratulate the elected DUCSU representatives. Secondly, victory and defeat are part of elections. Thirdly, a loss by one vote or a thousand is still a loss. We must understand the entire electoral system before commenting. Former DUCSU and student leaders’ controlled system prevented campus access, making this a controlled election that can never achieve universality.”

Multiple attempts to contact Chatra Dal central president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir for comments were unsuccessful.