One year after a landslide victory on a 36-point manifesto, the Shibir-backed Ducsu panel leaves office today with many of its major promises on accommodation, food, women’s access, administrative reform and accountability still unfulfilled.
The panel blames the university authorities for failing to cooperate, while critics say it made unrealistic promises.
The “United Students’ Alliance” secured 23 of Ducsu’s 28 posts, including nine of the 12 secretary-level positions, and dominated most hall unions.
Ducsu General Secretary and Central Publicity Secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir SM Farhad said the administration had failed to cooperate with the panel on several initiatives.
“The university administration did not want us to succeed. That is why they did not cooperate with us on many decisions,” he told TIMES.
Critics, however, said several manifesto commitments were unrealistic.
“The Shibir manifesto contained many promises that were not achievable. Most of the demands were only for show,” said Israt Jahan Emu, organising secretary of Revolutionary Student Unity’s Dhaka University unit.
Chhatra Dal Convener for Masterda Surja Sen Hall Manowar Hossain Pranto said, “They showed students sky-high dreams. But they failed to fulfil those dreams.”
Ensuring accommodation for every student from the first year was among the panel’s biggest promises. It pledged temporary hostels through university-private sector cooperation, monthly housing allowances and new residential halls.
A year later, students say the accommodation crisis remains unresolved.
A student of Shamsunnahar Hall said she had not received a seat even after one year of admission. She received a Tk3,000 monthly housing allowance for the first six months but stopped receiving it afterwards.
Asked why some students were not receiving the allowance, Farhad said, “Many are not getting it. If they send us the list, we fix it. Otherwise, they do not take it into consideration.”
Farhad also claimed credit for Tk2,840 crore in projects to construct six academic buildings and nine residential halls. “This came because of our efforts,” he said.
However, the projects were approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in July 2025, two months before the Ducsu election.
“The Shibir-backed panel is claiming credit for a budget that had already been approved,” said Abidur Rahman Mishu, member secretary of Surja Sen Hall Chhatra Dal.
The manifesto promised easier access for female students entering halls, entry for non-resident students with identity cards and guardian lounges.
Students say little has changed.
The platform Oborodhbashini said 57 per cent of female students at Dhaka University lack residential facilities. It also raised concerns over restrictions preventing non-resident female students from entering halls, resting, eating or staying overnight despite paying hall fees.
“A student from one hall cannot visit her friend in another hall. I have not even heard of a guardian lounge yet,” said a Rokeya Hall student.
Farhad said the panel had proposed digital gates in halls and other measures, but the administration did not approve them.
The panel also promised safer transport for female students, fewer male employees in female halls and more female members in the proctorial team. Students said there had been no visible progress on these commitments.
Improving food quality was another major election pledge. The panel promised nutritionist-supervised menus, quarterly food quality tests, affordable faculty cafeterias and meal vouchers for financially struggling students.
During the year, students reported finding worms, blades, cockroaches, crabs and other foreign objects in hall food. “The food does not contain even close to the amount of protein a person needs. The quality was the same before and remains the same,” said Mustakim Billah, a resident of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall.
Farhad said the administration had rejected their proposal for food testing, which he said would cost around Tk100,000.
He also admitted that the meal voucher programme had not been implemented.
“We left the work to the hall unions, but it is not possible collectively,” he said.
The promise to establish cafeterias in every faculty also remained incomplete.
The panel promised a paperless registrar building and a one-stop service platform for students seeking administrative services and higher education abroad.
Students said neither initiative had become a reality.
Farhad said the panel wanted the DU app to provide services including results, certificates and examination fee payments.
He claimed digitisation of the registrar building was nearing completion, but said the administration did not approve the proposal to develop the app externally.
The panel also promised justice for campus killings and violence, including the murders of Shammo, Tofazzal and Abu Bakar.
Farhad blamed successive governments for failing to act.
For Population Science student Shahriar Kabir, justice for Shahriar Alam Shammo’s murder was one of the most important manifesto commitments. “As a student, it hurts me that no effective action has been taken in one year,” he said.
The panel also promised career workshops, soft-skill development programmes, job fairs and a start-up summit.
Farhad said several skill-development initiatives had been completed, including free spoken English classes for around 450 students.
However, Mohammad Sakib, organising secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of National Citizen Party, said Ducsu had also failed to ensure accountability.
“The responsibility of hall unions and Ducsu was to ensure proper accountability from the administration. We also see shortcomings in that area,” he told TIMES.
