Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Wednesday said students’ strong stance against extortion, grabbing and dominance, along with their desire for new politics, helped Islami Chhatra Shibir panel win the DUCSU elections.

Speaking at a discussion, he, however, said the DUCSU polls do not reflect the national vote and will neither influence national politics.

“This generation, after a year, feels that we do not want to see this criminalised politics, the lies, the extortion, the politics of capture and domination. They do not want to see such behaviour in politics. They want to do something new,” he said.

Ganatantra Mancha organised the programme titled ‘Democratic Transition in Bangladesh: The Path to Reform’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

Manna, a former DUCSU Vice President, warned that if politics is only about lies, extortion and the struggle for power, it will not be sustainable.

About the DUCSU polls’ impact on national politics, he said, “I have been DUCSU Vice President twice. I was very popular among students, but I did not have a political party. I did not come to power, and my party could not come to power either. Winning in DUCSU does not mean they will achieve something huge in national politics.”

About Chhatra Shibir’s victory in the DUCSU elections, Manna said, “Thirty or 40 years ago, some political parties could not openly participate and faced danger if anyone noticed them. Now, they are standing tall before us. Even big parties are being challenged.”

Manna added that the DUCSU election has shown that fair voting is possible, even though many found the results hard to believe.

He thanked the student community, saying they showed courage that previous generations could not.

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The Nagorik Oikya leader said that independent candidates are now willing to run, signalling a shift. “Politics is no longer about large rallies but about digital campaigns and the ideas of the new generation. This generation has rejected old traditions like greeting seniors, following rigid protocols, and domination politics. They understand that politics requires sincerity, struggle, and commitment, not shortcuts to power.”

He said while political parties have become opportunistic, students have set a different example. “For fair elections in the future, unity and reforms are essential. For this, as much firmness is needed as flexibility when necessary.”

Manna suggested that Supreme Court decisions could provide acceptable solutions during crises and must be respected by all parties.

The Nagorik Oikya president said that politics is not something to take lightly; it is a struggle connected to people’s lives. “So, everyone has a responsibility to build honest, inclusive, and reform-oriented politics. Only then can good elections and a stronger political culture be ensured for the future.”