Umaama Fatema, a student of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the 2018-19 session and a resident of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall, has declared her plans to form an independent panel for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election scheduled for September 9.
On Wednesday, she made the announcement through a Facebook post, calling on fellow students to join her in creating a panel that is free from political control and committed to genuine student welfare.
Umaama wrote, “Since my first year at the university, I have been involved in student politics and tried to work for students both from within and outside political platforms. I initiated the platform ‘Baidho Seat Amar Odhikar’ (A Legal Seat Is My Right) to address accommodation issues for first-year students. Through these experiences, I’ve come to realize that it’s nearly impossible to resolve the deep-rooted issues of this university without major reform—and that reform can only be led by students themselves.”
She emphasized the need for a DUCSU leadership that reflects the aspirations of students and is not dictated by partisan interests. “Students deserve representatives who will not be controlled by any party, who will stand firmly for their rights, and who will not turn the university into a factory for political leadership alone. Instead, we need a DUCSU committed to academic excellence, research, and restoring the lost dignity of this institution,” she said.
Umaama further stated her intention to form a “research-oriented and visionary” panel comprising students who are already working for the betterment of campus life. She invited all students who care about the university’s future to join her initiative, especially those who believe in restoring a dignified, rights-based, and politically free educational environment.
Alongside the announcement, she also shared a Google Form in the comments section for students interested in contesting or contributing to the welfare of their peers to express their interest in joining the panel.
