Shibir’s Silent Resilience Yields Historic Ducsu Victory

Celebrations erupt after DUCSU poll results

Patience, discipline, and long-term planning turned the tide for Islami Chhatra Shibir, leading to a Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) triumph once considered an impossible dream for the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Students and teachers believe Shibir’s panel, Oikyaboddho Shikkharthi Jote, gained ground through its role in the July uprising, the sympathy it received after repeated clashes with Chhatra League activists, and years of quiet but focused organising, particularly in female dormitories.

During the Awami League’s long tenure, Shibir was forced to stay away from visible public activities, operating discreetly and embedding activists within social and cultural organisations. With access to dormitories restricted, many members relied on rented houses near the campus as operational bases. Though the group was never officially banned, its leaders and activists faced frequent attacks and expulsions from student halls.

The July uprising changed the dynamics. Shibir activists quickly assumed leadership roles in forming hall-wise unofficial “disciplinary” or “reform” committees, which allowed them to gain influence across campus. These committees engaged with residential students by offering personal assistance and introducing visible initiatives such as water purifiers, guestroom and mosque libraries, and motorcycle or bicycle washing stations. They also moved against students linked to the now-banned Chhatra League, forcing them out of dormitories through organised action or pressure from the authorities.

Such groundwork paved the way for Tuesday’s breakthrough victory.

Historically, Shibir’s political activities at Dhaka University were tightly restricted. After the 1990 mass uprising, student and teacher organisations jointly decided to prohibit Shibir and Jatiya Chhatra Samaj from political activities on campus, effectively freezing their presence. Under the Awami League’s 15-year rule, Shibir remained underground, but the July 2024 uprising revealed that its network had quietly endured, with members infiltrating Chhatra League and other socio-cultural groups to maintain relevance.

In October 2024, Shibir formally announced a 14-member Dhaka University committee, staging campus events openly for the first time in its 48-year history. The group’s momentum grew as other frontliners of the July movement contested Ducsu polls from separate panels, splitting votes and clearing the path for Shibir’s success.

Shibir’s “inclusive panel” strategy proved decisive. It featured four female candidates, one from another platform, as well as an indigenous community representative, helping to break its longstanding barrier to female support. VP-elect Abu Shadik Kayem secured 14,042 votes, including 5,224 from female dormitories, while GS-elect SM Farhad won 10,794 votes, with 3,951 from female halls.

Meanwhile, rival panels struggled. The VP candidate of Boishommo Birodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad managed just 1,103 votes, while its GS candidate, Abu Baker Mojumder, drew 2,131.

According to Farid Uddin Ahmed, professor of political science at Dhaka University, Shibir had been preparing for the Ducsu polls in an organised manner since the July uprising. “They carried out extensive campaigns in every hall, faculty, and student residence around the campus. Their preparation lasted nearly a year and allowed them to build a largely positive image among many students,” he said.

He observed that Shibir had covertly strengthened its presence in different halls, faculties, and hostels while showcasing superior organisational capacity, networking, and execution compared to rival panels.

Shibir’s long-hidden presence has now emerged into the open, transforming years of silent resilience into a historic student union victory.