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Pointing to the large turnout and the presence of independent candidates, he expressed hope for the future of student politics: “If elections like this are held regularly at Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, and others, then student politics will gain momentum. Political parties can enrich themselves if they correctly interpret the mindset of the students,” he told The Daily Star last night.

The similarity between the Ducsu election during his time and this year’s one, he said, is how participatory and competitive it was. “The difference is that in our time, we held the election amid a mass movement against military rule. But this time, it was held in a post-uprising phase.”

He added that during their time the established student organisations dominated the entire election process, including setting the agendas, but this time, a large number of new, independent, and recently formed student groups have entered the scene. “Some of them have already turned into political parties. This is something new and outside the traditional political trend.

“Another difference is the huge participation of female students. Compared to the past, it was significantly higher this time. Though female students are still not proportionately represented, their participation this time was much better than before.”

In the aftermath of the July uprising, he said, students are no longer invested in conventional political activities. They want to create a new political space as existing parties -- especially those that have ruled the country for long periods -- are failing to deliver. “Progressive parties still exist, but their organisational base has shrunk, so students don’t fully trust them either. If they cannot organise effectively, others will attract support.”

Mushtuq also said, “In Sri Lanka, the progressive forces made mistakes, but the younger generation’s aspirations were captured successfully by new actors through democratic processes. In Nepal too, youth movements against the monarchy brought major change.

“In Bangladesh, the same is possible. If political forces keep their eyes and ears open, without clinging to rigid ideologies, and if regular student elections are ensured, then politics will be shaped by fresh student voices. Otherwise, if elections are manipulated or results are rejected, students’ distrust in mainstream parties will only grow. That’s why the existing student organisations and their parent political parties must handle the election results responsibly.”

He warned, “If they fail to act responsibly, the same weaknesses exposed during the 2024 uprising will surface again.”