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Published : 23 Aug 2025, 12:18 AM
A storm of disunity has engulfed the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad (BGCS) as the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election approaches, with several of its leaders breaking away to run as independents or join rival panels.
Formed just six months ago under the banner of the powerful Students against Discrimination, the organisation now faces the question: how much ground can it hold in the DUCSU polls slated for Sep 9 amid such defections.
Even senior leaders of BGCS admit the divisions could have a negative impact, but argue that they cannot deny anyone their democratic rights.
“DUCSU is everyone’s democratic right. We cannot deprive anyone of it,” said Abdul Kader, convenor of the organisation.
A TURBULENT BEGINNING
The BCGS was formally launched on Feb 26 this year at Madhur Canteen, Dhaka University’s symbolic hub of student politics. But its very first day was marred by internal clashes among members.
Commonly known as BAGSAS in Bengali, the group is seen as the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), founded by leaders of the July Uprising. However, its leaders insist they are an independent student body.
For the DUCSU election, BGCS is fielding its candidates under the panel name “Boishamyabirodhi Chhatra Sangsad”, or Anti-discrimination Students’ Union. Kader is contesting the vice-president (VP) position, while central Convenor Abu Bakar Majumdar is running for general secretary (GS).
Other nominated candidates include Ashrefa Khatun for assistant GS, and university organiser Hasibul Islam for Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary.
However, Joint Organising Secretary Abu Sayeed has also collected nomination papers for the same post, leaving open the possibility of a clash if Hasibul chooses to run independently.
In a rare gesture of respect for Sanjida Ahmed Tonni, whose bloodied photo following attacks by Bangladesh Chhatra League became a symbol of the July Uprising, BGCS has left vacant the post of research and publications secretary.
BREAKAWAYS AND INDEPENDENTS
Despite a panel being announced, many BGCS leaders have chosen to run outside it. Among them are spokesperson Tahmid Al Mudasir, Ashiqur Rahman Jim, Joint Secretary Abu Salehin Ayon and Sanjana Afifa Aditi: all considered front-line leaders.
Aditi told bdnews24.com, “I submitted my nomination before the panel was finalised, and I was not informed of where I would be placed. So I decided to contest independently.”
Tahmid, Aditi and Jim are all running for assistant GS, against Ashrefa from the official BGCS panel. Ayon is contesting Liberation War secretary, the same post sought by Hasibul Islam.
Another leader, Riaz Uddin, is standing for member post independently.
Central member secretary Zahid Ahsan defended the breakaways, saying: “We cannot curtail anyone’s democratic rights. Our panel has limited space, so they are free to contest.”
Convenor Abdul Kader admitted the split will have electoral consequences. “Of course, it will affect our vote bank. But each candidate has their own constituency," he said.
"For example, in the Liberation War secretary race, the three candidates represent different faculties — Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences. Their support bases are distinct.”
OTHER DEFECTIONS
Umama Fatema, another prominent July Uprising leader, was expected to run under BGCS but instead joined the “Independent Students’ Unity” panel as a VP candidate.
“They initially asked if I would do DUCSU with them. If I had agreed, I might have been in their panel. But many of the fighters of the July Uprising are with our panel,” she told bdnews24.com.
Meanwhile, NCP Joint Member Secretary Mahin Sarkar was expelled from the party for “gross organisational indiscipline” after announcing his DUCSU candidacy. He is running for GS under the “Combined Students’ Union” panel, alongside VP candidate Jamal Uddin Khalid of Shadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangsad.
Former BGCS organisers Sabbir Uddin Rion and Bayezid Hasan also joined this panel.
Hasan explained his resignation: “Our goal was Sheikh Hasina’s fall, and that has been achieved. I don’t want to continue organisational work anymore, nor do I have time. So I stepped down.”
RESIGNATIONS AND MORE SPLITS
Several other leaders resigned and went independent. Joint Convenor Muktasen Moktar is running as an independent VP candidate for Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall union, while joint secretary Azizul Haque is running for VP of Masterda Surya Sen Hall union.
Abdul Kader, the convenor, downplayed the significance of such resignations, claiming many were not active organisers.
He pointed out that several key figures, such as Mahir Alam, Ashrefa and Tahmid, had little prior experience in student politics before July 2024 but now hold senior roles.
Well-known July Uprising activist Rupaiya Shrestha also resigned and joined the “Independent Students’ Unity” panel, saying she felt sidelined within BGCS.
“They wanted to keep me as a token in the organisation. That made no sense to me, so I resigned," he said.
EVERYONE A CANDIDATE -- EXCEPT ONE
Almost all members of BGCS’s central committee and Dhaka University unit are contesting DUCSU, except for central Member Secretary Zahid Ahsan.
“For me, the organisation comes first. I am not contesting in the election in the interest of the organisation. If needed, I would have,” Zahid told bdnews24.com.
OUTLOOK
With multiple candidates from within its ranks running against one another, BGCS risks splitting its own vote. Convener Kader conceded this, but said it reflected their democratic ethos rather than weakness.
“Yes, it creates a perception of disunity," he offered. "But since all are familiar faces from the July Uprising, we could not forbid anyone or impose restrictions. We did not want to be harsh.”
The DUCSU election will there test whether the fledgling BGCS can withstand its internal fractures — or whether its openness, once hailed as a strength, will prove a liability at the ballot box.
