Shibir sweeps 87 seats of 4 univ unions, JCD barely wins two

Candidates backed by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir have dominated student union elections across the country's premier public universities, securing 87 out of 102 positions in four major campuses, whilst Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) managed to win merely two seats.

Following the mass uprising of 2024, student union elections returned to public universities after years of absence. 

Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Chittagong and Rajshahi universities conducted polls between September and October, revealing a dramatic shift in student politics that has left traditional organisations struggling for relevance.

The outcome has stunned political observers, with Shibir-supported candidates achieving landslide victories at nearly every institution. 

At DUCSU, held on 9 September, Shibir-backed 'United Student Alliance' captured 23 out of 28 positions, including vice president, general secretary and assistant general secretary roles, alongside nine of 12 secretary posts and 11 of 13 member seats. Independent candidates and Protirodh Porshod claimed the remaining five seats, whilst JCD failed to secure any position.

JUCSU election on 13 September produced similar results, with Shibir-supported candidates winning 20 of 25 posts. Bangladesh Ganotantrik Chattra Sangsad managed just two positions, independents took three and JCD again drew a blank.

The pattern continued at Chittagong University, where CUCSU elections took place on 15 October after a 44-year hiatus. Shibir's 'Sampreetir Chhatra Jote' alliance swept 24 out of 26 positions. 

Only Aiyubur Rahman, a JCD-backed candidate, broke through by winning assistant general secretary (AGS) with 7,014 votes, whilst independent candidate Tamanna Mahbub secured the sports secretary position.

RUCSU election on 16 October saw Shibir-backed 'Combined Student Alliance' claim 20 of 23 seats. 

However, they lost three key positions: Salahuddin Ammar of 'Adhipottobirodhi Oikko' on general secretary, national women's footballer Nargis Khatun of JCD-backed 'Oikkoboddho Notun Projonmo' panel captured sports secretary and independent Tofael Ahmed took science and technology secretary.

Even at Gono University in Savar, the country's sole private institution with student union representation, Shibir-supported candidates triumphed in 25 September GOCSU election. Md Raihan Khan won general secretary whilst Samiul Hasan Shovon became assistant general secretary, marking their return after the union's dissolution in December 2020.

The remaining 13 positions across all universities went to independent candidates and smaller student organisations, highlighting the marginalisation of leftist groups and near-total collapse of JCD's campus influence.

SH