National Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), is set to hold its first central council on September 12, alongside the first council of its Dhaka University (DU) unit.
The councils will elect new leadership for both the central and DU units for the first time since the organisation was formed. Preparations are already underway, while speculation is mounting over who will take up the key leadership positions.
The decision to hold the first central council on September 12 was taken at the fifth general meeting of National Chhatra Shakti.
The meeting appointed Mohir Alam, central organising secretary for the southern region, as head of the preparatory committee and chief election commissioner for the council.
The DU council will also be held on the same day, as decided at its annual general meeting, with DU unit General Secretary Al Amin Sarker serving as head of both the election commission and the preparatory committee.
With the council approaching, discussions over potential candidates for the top central posts have gained momentum.
The election commission has officially published the final candidate list for the upcoming central council. The list was released on Wednesday (September 9) following the completion of nomination scrutiny and the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy.
According to a statement signed by Chief Election Commissioner Mohir Alam, two candidates will contest for the post of central president: Md Abu Baker Mazumder and Mahfuz Khan.
Three candidates have been cleared to contest for the post of general secretary: Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury, Md Limon Hasan and Mahfuzur Rahman.
Additionally, three candidates are vying for the position of organisational secretary: Abu Tauhid Md Siam, Samoli Sultana Zadni and Md Zohirul Islam.
Several names have also emerged in discussions over the top positions of the Dhaka University unit.
Central Senior Vice-President Hasib Al Islam, DU unit Senior Joint General Secretary Mohammad Mohiuddin, Surya Sen Hall Convener and DU unit Joint General Secretary Sakibul Hasan, and Asiya Akter Remija are among those being considered for the presidency.
For general secretary, the names being discussed include DU unit Organising Secretary Mohammad Sakib and Mohammad Ferdous Aiyam (Raiyan).
Leaders of the organisation say the first councils will mark an important step towards establishing elected and full-fledged leadership at both the central and Dhaka University levels.
They expect the councils to strengthen the organisation’s institutional structure and democratic practices.
Central Vice-President Limon Mahmud Hasan said he expects the leadership emerging from the council to be more accountable to grassroots leaders and activists.
“Democratic norms and practices will greatly inspire every leader and activist of National Chhatra Shakti to uphold the democratic trajectory of Bangladesh in the future,” he said.
Mohammad Mohiuddin, a candidate for president of the DU unit, said the first councils of both the central and DU units would be held through a democratic process with the participation of all councillors.
“We expect the right leadership to be elected based on merit, competence and dedication, rather than favouritism,” he said.
Mohiuddin said the organisation had nearly fallen apart following the last DUCSU election and that its members subsequently had to struggle to rebuild it.
“We had to go through a lot of struggle to reorganise the organisation. I believe the current committee is now successfully completing its tenure. I am hopeful that the respected councillors will elect capable leaders at the council,” he added.
Mohammad Sakib, a candidate for general secretary of the DU unit, said efforts would continue to learn from the shortcomings of the last DUCSU election and formulate a roadmap for the future.
“For that, we need smart and prudent leadership,” he said.