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Published : 10 Sep 2025, 12:22 PM
Newly elected Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Shadik Kayem has dedicated his landslide win to what he called the “July generation”, vowing to build a safer, more inclusive and academically stronger campus for all students.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the Senate Bhaban after the results were announced, Shadik, who ran with the Shibir-backed United Students’ Alliance, said the mandate was not his alone.
“There is no victory or defeat. The election marks a triumph of the July generation, the students of Dhaka University, the aspirations of the July [Uprising] and its martyrs.”
Shadik romped to victory with 14,042 votes, far outstripping his rivals, Chhatra Dal’s Abidul Islam Khan with 5,708 votes and independent Umama Fatema with 3,389 votes.
His panel-mates SM Farhad and Mohiuddin Khan bagged the other two top posts in the union with equally resounding wins, capping a stunning sweep for Jamaat-e-Islami's student front Shibir after it openly fielded a panel for the first time in the DUCSU polls.
At the outset, Shadik paid tribute to those killed during last year’s July Uprising that toppled the Awami League regime.
“We remember those through whom we gained a Bangladesh free of fascism, and through whom we now have a democratic environment on every campus,” he said.
He went on to dedicate the victory to past struggles and movements that have paved the way for democracy to take root in Bangladesh.
“We remember all the martyrs of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle, especially all the martyrs of the great Liberation War, all the martyrs of the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s, and our trailblazer [slain BUET student] Shaheed Abrar [Fahad], along with all the others on this campus who were martyred due to the repression of Chhatra League under the authoritarian rule.”
In the wake of Shibir's sweeping victory, the VP-elect noted that students had placed a “sacred trust” in him, general secretary-elect Farhad and assistant general secretary-elect Mohiuddin.
Vowing to fulfil that faith, he pledged that their “journey and struggle won't stop” until a "dream campus" is built for all students, ensuring a safe environment especially for women.
“I want to introduce myself as a brother to my sisters, as an elder brother to my younger brothers, as a younger brother to my elder brothers, as a friend to my friends, and as a student to my teachers. I promise that the Shadik Kayem you have known will not change even after becoming DUCSU VP.”
Expressing gratitude to all who supported his campaign, he also outlined his wish to bring together people of different faiths, opinions, and paths to work jointly for the university’s development.
Shadik said he would ensure that every student finds a proper learning environment.
“There will be an environment for research. They will not have to worry about housing. There will be food security, health security, and for our women students, we will build a safe campus.”
Describing all who contested the election as “fellow fighters”, he said: “We are all comrades-in-arms. Whatever manifestos our comrades had, we want to work on them together.”
“We want to present our vision of a dream Bangladesh from Dhaka University. The July revolution began here at Dhaka University and today, through its success, we have gained freedom," he said, highlighting his commitment to ensuring a democratic future for Bangladesh.
He thanked election organisers, female students for their high turnout, and offered condolences to the family of journalist Tariqul Islam Shibli, who died after falling ill while covering the election.
'A WIN FOR STUDENTS, NOT SHIBIR'
GS-elect Farhad, who won with 10,794 votes, echoed Shadik's message, stressing that the mandate belonged to all students.
"This is not Shibir’s victory, this is fundamentally a victory for all students. From now on, we want to serve as representatives of all students, as brothers and sisters to every student, be it a student of Charukola, Islamic Studies or Jagannath Hall.”
He called on students to act as watchdogs over DUCSU’s new leaders.
“I humbly request all students to act as our advisors. If we go astray, it is their duty to stop us.”
