In a surprising development ahead of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election, Abdullah Al Mamun, a prominent leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and a key figure in the July quota reform movement, has decided to contest independently after being excluded from the party’s announced panel for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS) position.
Mamun, a student of the History Department (2020–21 batch) and an active branch-level party worker, had expressed interest in the AGS post since the CUCSU election schedule was announced. Party sources say his exclusion has caused dissatisfaction among some members, particularly because Mamun played a frontline role in last year’s student protests, including highway blockades and the viral “Free Quota or Die” campaign.
Despite being left out of the panel, Mamun remains committed to his cause. Speaking to media indirectly, he conveyed that while he sought the AGS nomination through his party, he did not receive it. He stated that he would now run independently and is receiving encouraging responses from students.
The JCD panel announced earlier includes Sajjad Hossain Hridoy (VP), Md. Shafayat Hossain (GS), and Ayubur Rahman Towfiq (AGS). Mamun’s independent candidacy adds a new twist to the race, potentially creating divisions among the student party’s supporters.
Observers note that Mamun’s decision reflects ongoing tensions within the party and highlights the intense competition in this year’s CUCSU election, being held after a 35-year hiatus.
