Shadik Kayem Set to Become Jamaat’s Mayoral Candidate for DSCC

The speculation surrounding the next political move of Shadik Kayem (Md. Abu Shadik), Vice President (VP) of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), has intensified following his formal exit from Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. His departure from the student organization during its 2026 mid-year leadership reshuffle has effectively cleared the constitutional hurdles, paving the way for him to officially run as Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's mayoral candidate for the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) elections.

Confirming his exit to The Daily Campus today, Monday (July 13), Shadik Kayem stated that his formal farewell was finalized during Chhatra Shibir’s semi-annual leadership setup, which takes place twice a year. He subsequently shared an emotional parting message on his social media handle.

The transition has sparked widespread discussion online, with fellow student leaders and activists pointing toward his upcoming mayoral run. Khan Jasim, International Affairs Secretary of DUCSU, shared on Facebook, "DUCSU VP Shadik Kayem’s Chhatra Shibir chapter has ended. Is the next chapter Dhaka South City Mayor?"

Previously in May, Shadik Kayem was declared the mayoral candidate during a conference of Dhaka Metropolitan City South Jamaat-e-Islami unit leaders, an event he attended in person. Reliable party sources revealed that to contest the DSCC polls, Shadik Kayem had already transferred his National Identity Card (NID) registration from Khagrachhari to Dhaka to list himself as a local voter. Although he has not yet launched a public electoral campaign, he has consistently maintained strategic communication and organizational coordination with party grassroots.

At the time of the initial announcement, Chhatra Shibir had issued a strict clarifying statement emphasizing that its constitution explicitly debars active office-bearers from being declared candidates or contesting elections under the banner of any mainstream political party. The student wing had noted that individuals are only free to join political platforms and contest polls after their active term within Shibir concludes.

With his formal organizational farewell today, the structural restrictions imposed by the student front have been resolved. When approached for a statement regarding his official mayoral candidacy following the exit, Shadik Kayem declined to comment immediately.