DUCSU leaders vow to uphold students' mandate, July martyrs’ aspirations at first meeting

“Those of us elected are the representatives of the students. It's the job of students to hold us accountable,” says VP Shadik

Newly elected Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) leaders have pledged to address the problems of the university’s nearly 40,000 students, revealing that the consultation and opinion-gathering process has already begun, with a monthly work plan to be published soon.

Speaking at a media briefing after DUCSU’s first executive committee meeting on Sunday, the union's Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem stressed that his Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel's sweeping election victory was not about any individuals.

“Those of us elected are the representatives of the students. It's the job of student to question us and our responsibility is to stay true to our commitments,” he said.

“Since the election, we have tried to reach out to everyone. We believe there is no personal victory or defeat here. It’s the July generation and the aspirations of the martyrs who won through this.”

Shadek's panel mate and newly elected DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad echoed their commitment to ensuring an inclusive campus.

“Today is the first working day. On the first day, we started the introductory meeting and activities according to organisational rules. Whatever ideology we have, we want to uphold the voice of everyone being the student representatives,” he said.

Farhad added that a weekly and monthly executive plan would be adopted soon. The meeting also discussed sending five elected representatives to the university senate -- VP Shadik, GS Farhad, Assistant General Secretary Mohiuddin Khan, Sabikunnahar Tamanna and Transport Secretary Asif Abdullah.

Farhad said the decision to send the representatives would be published in a gazette.

The discussions also focussed on issues that need to be prioritised by the union, according to Farhad.