Bangladesh’s ‘New’ Student Force

The banned student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami has made a powerful comeback, harnessing post- uprising disillusionment and a divided opposition to sweep university elections across Bangladesh

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Inclusive panels, disciplined organisation, and social media helped Shibir reclaim student politics

Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), widely accepted as an anti-liberation force in Bangladesh due to its affiliations with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and historical opposition to the 1971 Liberation War, has long operated on the fringes of mainstream politics.

Renamed in 1977 at Dhaka University's mosque during the Ziaur Rahman era, Shibir faced bans and restrictions for decades. In 1990, following the fall of Ershad, Dhaka University authorities and student representatives imposed a ban on Shibir's activities. This persisted through the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League (AL) governments, culminating in a formal ban under the Anti-Terrorism Act on August 1, 2024, by the Sheikh Hasina government. However, the present interim government lifted this ban on August 28, 2024, allowing Shibir to reemerge.

Significantly, the fall of the Hasina government in July 2024, amid the student-led uprising, marked a turning point. Shibir, which had conducted activities secretly-often under disguised identities in university organisations-resurfaced strongly in Bangladesh's political arena. Leaders revealed affiliations post-uprising, forming committees like the Dhaka University unit on January 7, 2025. This resurgence manifested dramatically in student union elections, with landslide victories in the recently held Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) and Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU). Even in the Chittagong University Central Students' Union (CUCSU), Shibir introduced a Hindu candidate, signalling inclusivity. Minorities were included in panels and elected, challenging Shibir's traditional image.