DU Correspondent :
Several independent candidates have been able to create curiosity among students for various reasons, including their social, student-friendly and personal connections, leadership qualities, and eloquence in the2025 ‘Dhaka University Central Students Union’ ( DUCSU) election, along with the candidates from major student organizations for the top three
positions basically.
A record number of 10 panels and 471 candidates in this year’s election are competing, including candidates from Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Ganatanrik Chhatra Sangasad, Chhatra Union, Chhatra Adhikar Parishad and several other organizations as well as candidates personally are at the center of discussion and are the subject of much discussion; however, many analysts believe a few independent candidates may also surprise the voters.
However party and panel backed candidates are more discussed and get more facilities, some independent candidates have attracted special attention because students who are averse to politics are leaning towards the independent candidates who are in the discussion.
Shamim Hossain, a student of the university’s English department, is leading for the VP position, Arafat Hossain of the law department and Ashikur Rahman of the English department are leading for the GS position, Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, Sanjana Afifa Aditi and Ashikur Rahman Jim, who didn’t get the nomination for the desired position in the ‘Baishamya Birodhi Shikkarthy Sangsad’ panel led By ‘Ganatanrik Chhatra Sangsad’, are vying for the AGS position, Zubair Bin Nesari for the Social Service Secretary position, Musaddik Ali Ibne Mohammad for the Literature and Culture Secretary position and Ashik Khan for the Member position among such discussed candidates.
Independent candidates claim panel candidates are being given more facilities and no action is being taken against them in spite of violating the code of conduct even some candidates have complained to the Election Commission on these issues.
Independent VP candidate Shamim Hossain has already sparked heated debate with his eloquence, his commitment to academic reform and his promise to teach students English free for a year if elected.
He said, “Everyone at DUCSU will fight ideologically and I will do the politics of academic reform, which is my comfort zone.”
GS Candidate Arafat Chowdhury is a well-known figure among students for his role as the co-founder of the ‘Dhaka Bishwabidyaloy Nirapatta Manch’ established for the safety of Dhaka University students, founding an organization called ‘Cyber Aid Bangladesh’ to provide legal assistance to students, and serving as the current general secretary of ‘Save the Tomorrow’, a service organization works with neglected and disadvantaged street children and so he has been a subject of discussion among students for his various contributions to the welfare of students at various times through these works.
GS candidate Ashikur Rahman, a student of the English department in the 2022-23 session, sparked discussion and criticism among the youth with his unusual campaign, featuring a poster on Facebook showing himself wearing sunglasses, a lighter in his hand, and a burning cigarette on his lips and a funny comment titled ‘I’m going to set DUCSU on fire, friends’ in his manifesto.
” I have promised in my manifesto to fight to not keep the ‘attendance mark system’ for which students are very upset and this alone is enough to get my vote,” Ashikur Rahman said to The New Nation, “I have given details in my manifesto and anyone who reads it is bound to appreciate it.”
In a recent media interview, he said, “Among those who practice ideology politics, the lowest candidate is Meghmallar (President of DU unit Chhatra Union and GS candidate for ‘Pratirodh Parshad’ led by some leftist student organisations) and If I can’t defeat him, then I won’t have a mandate.”
Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, chief organizer of ‘Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad’, is contesting independently in AGS position despite not receiving nomination from the party as he made a place in the minds of students due to his organizational skills, cultural activities, debates, and involvement in volunteer organizations.
Tahmid Said to The New Nation, “I have been involved in the university’s co-curricular activities, my involvement with students is long-standing and I have proven my leadership skills, honesty and dedication to the students.”
” I believe that students will choose me in this journey of establishing an education, research and student-friendly university by utilizing my diverse experience, said Tahmid.
Apart from this, Sanjana Afifa Aditi and Ashikur Rahman Jim from the same organization can challenge for the GS post. Before the July Uprising, Sanjana was associated with the ‘Chhatra Odhikar Parishad’ and later with ‘Ganatantrik Chhatra Shakti’, and Jim was the first to resign from the Chhatra League during the July Uprising, giving the movement a different dimension.
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