Home
+
Published : 21 Aug 2025, 01:17 AM
Backpack on her shoulders, stick in hand, bloodied face behind her glasses -- the image of a young woman, hunched over and bruised from a beating, became “the turning point” of the July protests.
That woman, Sanjida Ahmed Tonni, is now contesting the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election for the post of research and publication secretary.
Tonni, a master’s student at Dhaka University, came under attack on Jul 15 during the student protests when members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League stormed the campus.
Her bloodied image, widely shared on social and news media, stirred public outrage and added momentum to the movement that eventually saw the fall of the Awami League government.
Now, student organisations and election panels are stepping aside in a rare gesture of solidarity and respect.
None of the panels is fielding a candidate for the position Tonni is contesting.
One panel that initially nominated someone for the post has since withdrawn their candidate.
Student organisations say Tonni’s widely circulated image, showing her bloodied and battered during the July protests, continues to serve as a reminder of the previous government’s brutal crackdown.
Out of what they call “respect for her role and sacrifice,” they have opted not to contest her post.
Tonni, a student of the 2019–20 session from the Department of Clinical Psychology at Dhaka University, has welcomed this gesture.
She said her decision to run for the position of research and publication secretary comes from personal interest in academic research.
She also expressed a desire to contribute to student welfare.
No candidates have been fielded against her by several major panels, including the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad-backed Anti-discrimination Students’ Parliament, Islami Chhatra Andolan, the left-wing panel Protirodh Parshad, the Samonnito Shikkharthi Sangsad led by Jamaluddin Muhammad Khalid and Mahin Sarkar, and the three-group leftist alliance Oporajeyo 71–Odommo 24.
At a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib announced their panel and said: “Out of respect for Tonni, we have not nominated anyone for this post.
“At the same time, we are extending our full support to her on behalf of Chhatra Dal.”
On Monday, Abdul Kader, convenor of the Dhaka University unit of the Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad, announced in a Facebook post that their panel would also leave the position vacant.
He wrote: “Tonni is the spark behind the flame of our July protests. She is the inspiration behind our roar of resistance in July.
“As a mark of respect, we have left the post of research and publication secretary vacant in our supported panel, and we will fully support her candidacy.”
Tonni submitted her nomination on Tuesday.
She cited her passion and experience in research as the reason for choosing this post.
She told bdnews24.com that she will strive to secure funding for student research, improve access to academic journals, collaborate with corporate bodies, alumni and NGOs for research grants, and recognise and support high quality research through seminars and awards.
“Ultimately, I want to elevate research at Dhaka University to world standards,” she added.
Commenting on the gesture of passivity by the panels, Tonni said: "I am deeply grateful to those organisations that honoured me by withdrawing their candidates. They believe I can fulfill students’ hopes if elected. My aim is to win on student votes, so I can serve them."
