Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (BICS) has recently revealed identities of its Dhaka University (DU) unit President and General Secretary.
Abu Shadik Kayem, a 2016-17 session student of Political Science and a resident at Masterda Surja Sen Hall, was declared the branch's President while SM Farhad, 2017-18 session student of Social Welfare and Research and a resident at Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall, as its General Secretary.
The disclosure of their identities and its decision to do politics openly on the campus after 15 years drew mixed reactions among common students and other political elements.
Many students expressed surprise as they knew the duo personally but were unaware of their political identities.
Before becoming the President of the DU unit, Shadik was President and General Secretary of Shibir's Surja Sen Hall unit.
Shadik came to limelight when he along with leaders of other student organisations attended an event to exchange views with the DU administration on September 21.
He declared Farhad as the unit's General Secretary on the following day.
However, central President Monzurul Islam said the full-fledged committee of the DU unit will be declared soon.
Acknowledging sacrifice of all student orgainsations in the student-people uprising in July and early August, Shadik said Chhatra Shibir wants to renovate conventional landscape of student politics by upholding the spirit of the 2024 uprising.
Talking to the Daily Observer, he said he was in favour of reforms in student politics instead of banning it.
To reform student politics in light of students' aspirations, he sought support from all student parties including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and left-leaning student bodies.
He demanded that the DU Central Students' Union (DUCSU) polls be held regularly and the current DU Syndicate be dissolved.
Saying that Shibir wants to do politics of meritocracy, he said, "Everyone will practice their politics. Everyone will enjoy the freedom of expression. Nothing will be imposed on anyone."
During the 15 year rule of Awami League, Shibir could not hold a visible programme on the campus.
Asked why they are now doing politics openly, SM Farhad said, "Chhatra League established a reign of terror in the last 15 years. There was no environment for practicing freedom of expression and freedom to choose. Now a fresh environment has created after the fall of fascist Sheikh Hasina."
"Chhatra League used to beat up students over suspicion of connection with Shibir. They forced students to leave the dormitories. Chhatra League thought it was right to kill students over suspicion of connection with Shibir," said Farhad, substantiating brutal killings of BUET student Abrar Fahad and Biswajit Das by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Shibir leaders and activists played a significant role in the July Revolution.
Abdul Kader, central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who announced the nine-point demand that include an apology from Sheikh Hasina for killing hundreds of people, endorsed that Shibir's DU unit Secretary Farhad outlined the demands.
He said Shibir men by placing their lives at risks reached out to media houses to convey the demands.
Al Jazeera's investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer also applauded leadership quality of Shadik as he was a dominant medium when the then government imposed a complete internet shutdown in July.
