The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections have produced results that reflect both continuity and change in the student political landscape. While candidates backed by the Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported panel swept the top three leadership positions, one independent contender, Sanjida Ahmed Tonni, emerged as a resounding victor in her race.

Tonni, a well-known activist associated with the July Movement, contested as an independent candidate for the position of Research and Publication Secretary. She won by a wide margin, securing a remarkable 11,777 votes, the highest individual tally recorded in this year’s election. Her emphatic win underscored the strong support she enjoys among students, even as most key posts went to organized panel-backed candidates.

The official results were announced on Wednesday at the university’s Senate Bhaban by election officials. According to the tally, the Vice President, General Secretary, and Assistant General Secretary positions were all claimed by Shibir-supported contenders, each winning by large margins over their rivals.

For the Vice President post, Md. Abu Sadiq, popularly known as Sadiq Kayem and backed by the Shibir-supported panel, secured victory with 14,042 votes. His nearest competitor, Abidul Islam Khan of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing), managed 5,708 votes, leaving a gap that signaled a decisive defeat for opposition forces in the central post.

In the race for General Secretary, SM Forhad, also backed by the same panel, triumphed with 10,794 votes. His closest rival, Hamim from the Chhatra Dal camp, trailed significantly with 5,283 votes. The Assistant General Secretary seat followed a similar pattern, with panel candidate Mohiuddin Khan taking the post by earning 11,772 votes against rival Tanvir Al Hadi Mayed of Chhatra Dal, who collected 5,064 votes.

The outcomes illustrate both the organizational strength and voter mobilization capacity of the Shibir-backed panel, which managed to consolidate victories in the most influential leadership roles. At the same time, Tonni’s independent win represents an unusual breakthrough, as she was able to overcome the dominance of established blocs to carve out a space for herself in the central committee.

Her performance, drawing more votes than any other single candidate in the entire election, points to an alternative current of student opinion that has been growing quietly on campus. As a familiar face in progressive student activism, her resounding victory as Research and Publication Secretary highlights a broader appetite among students for candidates who stand outside traditional alliances.

The DUCSU election, long regarded as a reflection of larger national political trends, has once again underscored the deep divides within student politics. With Shibir-backed candidates sweeping the top posts, and the Chhatra Dal unable to mount an effective challenge despite fielding candidates across the board, the political terrain inside Dhaka University appears sharply tilted. Yet Tonni’s success stands as an important reminder that independent and issue-driven campaigns can still break through, even in a heavily polarized atmosphere.

For now, the election results leave the Shibir-backed panel firmly in control of the central union’s key positions, while Sanjida Ahmed Tonni’s landslide win offers a striking counterpoint, marking her as one of the most significant independent figures in the new DUCSU lineup.