'DUCSU Civil War' meme sparks social media storm on campus

A satirical social media post portraying a fictional "DUCSU Civil War" has triggered an online storm and a public exchange between two Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) representatives following a controversial disciplinary action at Masterda Surjo Sen Hall.

The controversy stems from the permanent expulsion of a student from the hall over allegations related to bringing an outsider into the residential facility. The incident later became the subject of heated debate on social media.

On Friday, Samsul Haque Anan, senior joint convener of the Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall unit, shared a Marvel-inspired meme depicting DUCSU Literature and Cultural Affairs Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad as "Mobster Musaddiq" and Executive Member Sarba Mitra Chakma as "Sarba Shatru Chakma," casting the two student leaders as rivals in a fictional conflict.

The meme quickly went viral, attracting thousands of reactions and comments, with many users responding with laughing emojis while others debated the underlying political dispute.

The online satire soon gave way to a more serious public disagreement, as both Musaddiq and Sarba published lengthy Facebook posts expressing sharply different views on the handling of the Surjo Sen Hall incident.

According to the university administration, the expelled student, Naimur Reza of the 2022-23 academic session, was found to have brought an outsider into the hall after meeting the individual online. Hall authorities said the outsider mistakenly knocked on the wrong room, prompting students to alert the administration.

University officials said they later examined the student's mobile phone and claimed to have found information they considered suspicious. Based on the hall administration's decision, the student was permanently expelled from the residence.

Assistant Proctor Muhammad Rafiqul Islam said Reza was later handed over to his departmental academic adviser following the disciplinary action. He added that the university was strengthening security measures to prevent similar incidents in residential halls.

In a Facebook post, Sarba Mitra Chakma expressed disappointment that some of his colleagues had criticised him publicly without first speaking to him. He said the decision to release the accused student on a bond, with assurances of administrative action, had already been made before he arrived at the scene.