Islami Chhatra Shibir has once again secured a decisive victory in the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JUKSU) election. Candidates backed by the organisation’s panel, Odommo Jobiyan Oikko, won 16 out of 21 posts, including vice-president (VP), general secretary (GS), and assistant general secretary (AGS).

Earlier, in student union and hall elections at four universities—including Dhaka University—Shibir-backed panels had also dominated most positions, a trend that appears to have continued at Jagannath University.

Discussions with Shibir activists and general students suggest that at least four major factors contributed to this latest success.

Many observers believe that voting patterns seen in previous elections at DUCSU (Dhaka University), JUCSU (Jahangirnagar University), RUCSU (Rajshahi University), and CUCSU (Chattogram University) influenced the JUKSU outcome. In those elections, general students largely voted along panel lines, a tendency that appears to have been repeated.

At the same time, internal divisions weakened rival groups. Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal suffered from factional splits, while candidates backed by left-leaning alliances failed to gain broad support. Panels supported by the National Students’ Power group were also unable to attract significant votes.

Another key factor was Shibir’s long-term organisational presence on campus. Through regular meetings, study circles, and engagement with students’ academic and personal concerns, the group reportedly built a loyal and consistent voter base. A student who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Shibir’s approach of seeking votes from all students without discrimination helped create a more positive atmosphere on campus.

Winning candidates also pointed to strategic panel formation as an important reason behind their success. The panel included students associated with Inqilab Mancha and Up Bangladesh, as well as well-known faces from the July mass movement. This broad representation, they said, made the panel more appealing beyond traditional organisational lines.

Nawshin Nawar Joya, who won the post of international affairs secretary and was active during the July movement, said the inclusion of independent candidates and familiar movement figures increased Shibir’s acceptance among students. She also noted that involvement in academic improvement efforts and social and humanitarian activities—particularly outreach to female students—played a significant role.

Analysis shows that nearly all winning candidates were actively involved in the July mass uprising. Riyazul Islam won the VP post with 5,558 votes after a closely contested race against AKM Rakib, who secured 4,688 votes. Both were prominent figures during the movement.

In the GS race, Shibir-backed Abdul Alim Arif received 5,475 votes, defeating his nearest rival Khadijat-ul-Kubra by a wide margin. Kubra, who had previously been jailed under the Digital Security Act during the former Awami League government, received less than half of Arif’s total votes.

Masud Rana, who won the AGS post, had served as a coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement. Nur Nabi, elected as liberation war and democracy secretary, was reportedly a victim of enforced disappearance during the July uprising.

Meanwhile, conversations with general students and Chhatra Dal activists indicate that long-standing divisions between active and inactive factions within Chhatra Dal severely undermined their campaign. Due to organisational weaknesses and lack of coordination, the group was forced into a last-minute alliance with the Students’ Rights Council, even conceding key posts such as VP.

Internal dissatisfaction also emerged over the nomination of Khadijat-ul-Kubra for the GS post. Party insiders said resentment grew after senior, long-time activists were sidelined, while she was given a position shortly before the panel was announced.

A joint convener of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, speaking anonymously, said internal group rivalries were the primary reason for the defeat. He noted that some activists refrained from voting if their own faction’s candidate was not nominated, leading to the loss of capable contenders.

On the other hand, candidates from left-backed alliances—except for GS candidate Evan Tahsiv—failed to draw notable support. Panels backed by the National Students’ Power group also struggled to connect with voters.