A new independent student panel, Swatantra Shikkharthi Oikya (Independent Students’ Unity), has been announced to contest the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections under the leadership of former spokesperson of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Umama Fatema.
The declaration was made on Thursday afternoon at Aparajeyo Bangla on the Dhaka University campus.
According to the announcement, Umama Fatema will run as the panel’s Vice President (VP) candidate, while Al Sadi Bhuiyan has been nominated for General Secretary (GS) and Zahed Hossain for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).
Other notable candidates from the panel include:
- Numan Ahmad Chowdhury – Liberation War & Democratic Movements Secretary
- Mominul Islam (Bidhan) – Science & Technology Secretary
- Surmi Chakma – Common Room, Reading Room & Cafeteria Secretary
- Nafiz Bashar (Alif) – International Affairs Secretary
- Anid Hasan – Literature & Cultural Affairs Secretary
- Siam Hossain Imon – Research & Publications Secretary
- Md. Sadikuzzaman Sarkar (Sadik) – Sports Secretary
- Md. Rafiz Khan – Student Transport Secretary
- Tanvir Samad – Social Service Secretary
- Rupaiya Shrestha Tonchongya – Career Development Secretary
- Israt Jahan Nijhum – Health & Environment Secretary
- Nusrat Jahan Nisu – Human Rights & Law Secretary
The panel also announced 15 candidates for member positions, including Bobby Bishwas, Nowreen Sultana Toma, Abir Hasan, Roktobeej Orko Barua, Rafiqul Haque Rafi, Abdullah Al Mubin (Rifat), Sadekur Rahman Sani, Md. Mukhtarul Islam (Ridoy), Hasibur Rahman, Abid Abdullah, Md. Hasan Jubair (Tufan), Md. Sajib Hossain, Md. Shakil, Newaz Sharif Arman, and Abid Abdullah.
Meanwhile, the DUCSU and Hall Union Election Commission has reported that a total of 509 nomination papers have been submitted for the 28 central DUCSU posts. Earlier, 658 forms were sold, leaving 149 unsubmitted.
For the Hall Union elections across 18 dormitories, 1,109 nomination papers have been submitted against 1,427 sold forms, with 318 not filed.
The DUCSU election is expected to see intense competition this year, with both established student organizations and independent platforms like Umama Fatema’s panel vying for influence in the central student body of Dhaka University.
