Shamim Ahmed has now become a messenger of change for a significant section of the student community
According to analysts, the DUCSU election is not just about choosing the leadership of a university, but also serves as a testing ground for the country’s future leadership. In that sense, Shamim Ahmed could emerge as a symbol of a new kind of politics.
Shamim Ahmed has now become a messenger of change for a significant section of the student community
Shamim Ahmed is contesting for the post of Vice President (VP) in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections. From the very night before the polls, various forms of propaganda have been circulated against him. Political analysts say that the more smear campaigns are carried out against a candidate ahead of an election, the more it actually reflects their popularity and acceptability.
His opponents have tried to brand him as an agent of foreign intelligence agencies. Many have remarked, “In Bangladesh, the easiest and cheapest form of political slander is to link someone with RAW or any foreign spy agency.” But instead of being subdued by such allegations, Shamim Ahmed has rather become a focal point of discussion among students.
Although not all of his political statements are universally accepted, he has succeeded in presenting new ideas and a different perspective. Many students believe that his leadership could help break the entrenched subservience to party politics within DUCSU. For this reason, many voters think, “If Shamim Ahmed is elected DUCSU VP, it will mark a positive turning point for student politics.”
Students say that by breaking away from the rigid conventions of partisan politics, Shamim Ahmed could set an alternative example. Expressing support for him, some have commented, “If we were voters, we would vote for Shamim Ahmed — this is essentially a protest against blind party loyalty.”
