Ashikur Rahman, a candidate for the general secretary (GS) position in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, has released a highly unconventional manifesto that breaks from traditional campaign rhetoric.
A student from the 2022-23 session in the English Department of Dhaka University, Ashikur’s platform is built on a promise of pragmatic and confrontational representation.
His manifesto, written in a candid and often humorous tone, opens with the declaration, “I have come to set DUCSU on fire, friends.”
A central pillar of his agenda is the reform of mandatory class attendance policies.
Ashikur argues that the requirement to listen to “stale lectures for hours” for a mere 5% of marks is inefficient, stating, “It’s better to get good results without attending class than to attend and not.”
The candidate proposes full marks for 70-75% attendance and allowing students to sit for exams with just 50% attendance, dismissing an overemphasis on QS rankings.
Positioning himself as a strategic operator rather than a traditional leader, Ashikur wrote, “I am not a professional politician. This is why I want to work not as a leader but as a political bureaucrat.”
He described his intended role as that of “the wartime consigliere from The Godfather,” focusing on pressuring authorities to solve problems presented to him by students. “Your job is to sit comfortably on the sofa and watch the show; my job is to fight, pressure, and negotiate to realise your demands,” Ashikur stated.
His other pledges include addressing the severe accommodation crisis by converting non-academic buildings into halls, improving security and transportation for female students, and preventing the campus from becoming a “parking lot and urination spot for outsiders.”
Ashikur also promised to restrict noisy meetings and processions to designated areas like the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
In a unique appeal, he directly targeted anime and movie lovers, referring to himself as an “otaku”.
The candidate also displayed unusual honesty about his limitations, warning voters not to expect him to be responsive to late-night calls as he goes to sleep early and doesn’t own a motorcycle.
He vowed to maintain financial integrity, expose any corruption within the union, and ensure that religious and cultural events on campus are conducted without offending any community.
Ashikur concluded his manifesto with a note of faith, writing, “And surely, my Lord is sufficient for me.”