Shadik Kayem

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Shadik Kayem
সাদিক কায়েম
Shadik at the Suhrawardy Udyan, 2025
27th Vice-President of Dhaka University Central Students' Union
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 September 2025
President
General Secretary
S M Farhad
Preceded byNurul Haque Nur
Personal details
BornMd. Abu Shadik
Satkania, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Spouse
Anika Fardin Forayezi
​
​
(m. 2026)​
University of Dhaka
OccupationPolitical activist
Organization
Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir
Movements
July Uprising

Md. Abu Shadik (Bengali: মোঃ আবু সাদিক), better known as Shadik Kayem (Bengali: সাদিক কায়েম), is a Bangladeshi student activist who has been the vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) since 2025.[1][2]

Previously, he was president of the University of Dhaka unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir during the 2024 academic session[3][4] and, is currently serving as the central international affairs secretary of the organization.[5][6]

Early life and education

Shadik Kayem was born in Satkania Upazila of the Chittagong District.[7] Kayem began his primary education in Khagrachari. He passed his Dakhil examination in 2014 from Baitush Sharaf Jabbariya Adarsha Madrasah. Following that, he passed his Alim examination in 2016 from the Baitush Sharaf Adarsha Kamil Madrasah in Chittagong and was admitted to the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka for the 2016–2017 academic session.[3]

Kayem is married to Anika Fardin Farayzi, a medical doctor by profession, who is the daughter of Ayub Ali Farayezi, a businessman who serves as vice chairman of Reliance Group and chairman of Probashibangla Properties Limited.[8][9][10]

Political career

Kayem is a former president of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Students’ Council, former founder of Hill Society and former organizing secretary of the Surya Sen Hall Association of Political Science.[11][12]

In 2024, following the student–public uprising, Kayem publicly disclosed his position of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka University.[13][14] He was also a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination during 2024 quota reform movement.[15][16]

He is the central international affairs secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.[17]

On May 1, 2026, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced Shadik Kayem as its mayoral candidate for the Dhaka South City Corporation elections during a council session.[18][19]

However, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir disputed this announcement. In a statement, the GS (General Secretary) of DUCSU and organization's central publicity secretary, S M Farhad, clarified that individuals holding active leadership positions within the student organization are ineligible to represent other political parties as candidates.[20][21][22][23]

2025 DUCSU election

Shadik Kayem contested the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) as the vice president (VP) candidate from the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir backed panel United Students' Alliance.[24] He was elected vice president with 14,042 votes. His closest rival, Abidul Islam Khan of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal, received 5,708 votes.[25][26] He officially assumed office on September 14, 2025.[27][28]

Electoral history

YearElectionPositionParty/AllianceVotesPercentageResult
2025DUCSU ElectionVice PresidentUnited Students' Alliance (USA)14,04247.99%Elected

Activism

In addition to his political activities, Shadik has been involved with various non-political organizations.[29]

He served as an advisory member of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), an organization dedicated to preventing violence against students. He was the general secretary of the Bangladesh Youth Initiative and served as the president of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Students' Council (Parbatya Chattagram Chhatra Sangsad). To improve the quality of life for the hill people, he founded a social and voluntary organization called Hill Society. He also acted as a facilitator for SAVE Youth - Students Against Violence Everywhere, an organization focused on deterring young people from criminal activities. Additionally, he served as the general secretary of the Surja Sen Hall Association of Political Science.[3][30][31]

Controversies

Presence During Vote Counting

A controversy arose during the DUCSU elections after photos spread online showing Kayem inside a vote counting room, even though candidates were not allowed there. Rival candidates raised questions about whether Kayem was getting special treatment and whether the election process was fair. Kayem admitted that he was inside the room only for a short time to inform officials that returning officers were leaving the polling centres.[32]

Defamation Lawsuit Against Facebook Pages

On 1 December 2025, Shadik Kayem filed a lawsuit against nine meme-related Facebook pages as well as three Facebook accounts, alleging the dissemination of false information and the cyberbullying of female student leaders. His decision to pursue legal action generated significant debate and criticism on social media, particularly concerning the implications for satire and online expression.[33][34]

Criticism From Journalists And Human Rights Organizations

Cartoonist, writer and editor Ahsan Habib criticized the case during a discussion titled “Satire, Memes, and Cartoons: Freedom of Expression or Defamation,” organized by the Citizen Coalition at the National Press Club in Dhaka.[35] Article 19 condemned the lawsuits, describing them as an “attack on free expression” and urging the Bangladesh government to safeguard the right to online dissent.[36]

See also

References

  1. "From Shibir leader to Ducsu VP: Shadik Kayem at center of discussion". Dhaka Tribune. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  2. "Final results announced: Shadik Kayem elected as DUCSU VP". Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  3. "Who is Shadik Kayem, introduced as the DU Shibir president?". kalerkantho.com (in Bengali). 22 September 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. পরিচয় লুকানো ঢাবি শিবিরের সভাপতি কে এই সাদিক কায়েম? [Who is this Shadik Kayem, the hidden identity of DU Shibir president?]. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  5. "Shibir's important positions held by DU's Sibgatullah and Shadik Kayem". kalerkantho.com (in Bengali). January 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. "Give fuel before the lamp goes out: Shibir leader Shadik Kayem". Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  7. তাসনীম হাসান (13 March 2026). "চসিক নির্বাচন: মেয়র পদে সাদিক কায়েমকে প্রার্থী করাতে চায় জামায়াত!". Dainik Purbokone (in Bengali). Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  8. রমিজ হুসাইন (7 May 2026). "বিয়ে করছেন ডাকসু ভিপি সাদিক কায়েম, পাত্রী কে?" (in Bengali). Channel 24. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  9. "বিয়ে করছেন ডাকসু ভিপি সাদিক কায়েম" (in Bengali). Daily Naya Diganta. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. "বিয়ে করলেন ডাকসু ভিপি সাদিক কায়েম" (in Bengali). Kalbela. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  11. "Shadik Kayem is new VP". Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  12. "Who is Shadik Kayem?". দেশ রূপান্তর (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  13. "Yeni Şafak Exclusive: Bangladeshi Student Leader Shadik Kayem Speaks on Revolution That Ended Sheikh Hasina's 16-Year Dictatorship". Yeni Şafak. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  14. Hawlader, Asif (22 September 2024). "President of Shibir's DU unit goes public, sparks debate". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  15. "Zulkar Nine highlights the events of july - banglanews24.com". banglanews24.com. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  16. "Shibir's Shadik was the hero behind the July Revolution: Zulkar Nine Sayer". jaijaidinbd.com. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  17. "Shadik Kayem among newly appointed Shibir secretaries". Jago News 24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  18. "Jamaat announces Ducsu VP Sadiq Kayem as DSCC mayoral candidate". Dhaka Tribune. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  19. "সাদিক কায়েমকে ঢাকা দক্ষিণ সিটির মেয়র প্রার্থী হিসেবে ঘোষণা" (in Bengali). The Daily Ittefaq. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  20. "সাদিক কায়েমের মেয়র প্রার্থী হওয়ার কোনো সুযোগ নেই : ছাত্রশিবির" (in Bengali). Kaler Kantho. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  21. "Shibir denies reports of Sadik Kayem's mayoral nomination". The Daily Observer. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  22. "সাদিক কায়েমের মেয়র প্রার্থী হওয়ার গুঞ্জন, যা জানাল শিবির" (in Bengali). Daily Amar Desh. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  23. "জামায়াতের মেয়র প্রার্থী হিসেবে সাদিক কায়েমের নাম প্রচার, শিবির বললো সুযোগ নেই" (in Bengali). The Daily Ittefaq. 1 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  24. "Shadik Kayem casts his vote in DUCSU election". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  25. "Shadik Kayem elected VP, Farhad elected GS". Manab Zamin. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  26. "DUCSU Election: Chhatra Shibir's Shadik elected VP, Farhad GS, Mahiuddin AGS" ছাত্রশিবিরের সাদিক ভিপি, ফরহাদ জিএস, মহিউদ্দীন এজিএস নির্বাচিত. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  27. "First meeting of DUCSU held today". BSS. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  28. "No personal victory, 'July generation' won Ducsu polls: VP Shadik Kayem". The Business Standard . 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  29. "DUCSU VP seeks vote for 'Yes' to block path to become fascist | District". BSS. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
  30. "ঢাবি ছাত্রশিবিরের সভাপতি সাদিক কায়েমকে নিয়ে এত আলোচনা কেন?" [Why is there so much discussion about DU Chhatra Shibir President Shadik Kayem?]. jagonews24.com (in Bengali). Jago News 24. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  31. "ঢাবি শিবিরের সভাপতি কে এই সাদিক কায়েম?" [Who is this Shadik Kayem, the President of DU Shibir?]. deshrupantor.com (in Bengali). Desh Rupantor. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  32. "VP candidate Shadik Kayem enters DUCSU vote counting room, sparks backlash". Backlash as Shadik Kayem enters vote counting room. bdnews24.com. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  33. "Case filed against a dozen facebook pages and account by VP Shadik Kayem". The Daily Campus (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  34. Arman, Jahed. "Political Meme-Culture: The Battlefield of Public Opinion". Kalbela (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  35. "Ahsan Habib protests against the case filed against 'Yearki'". Samakal (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  36. "Lawsuits against satire and dissent are an 'attack on free expression': Article 19". The Business Standard (in Bengali). 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.