Shadik Kayem
Bangladeshi student activist
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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.[2][3]
Shadik Kayem | |
|---|---|
মোঃ আবু সাদিক | |
Shadik at the Suhrawardy Udyan, 2025 | |
| 27th Vice-President of Dhaka University Central Students' Union | |
| Assumed office 14 September 2025 | |
| President | |
| General Secretary | SM Forhad |
| Preceded by | Nurul Haque Nur |
| Central International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir | |
| Assumed office 25 February 2026 | |
| Central President | Nurul Islam Saddam |
| Central International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir[1] | |
| In office 19 January 2025 – 25 February 2026 | |
| Central President |
|
| Preceded by | Azizur Rahman Azad |
| Succeeded by | Amirul Islam |
| President of the Dhaka University Unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir | |
| In office 2024–2025 | |
| Central President | Nurul Islam Saddam |
| Preceded by | Rafe Salman Rifat |
| Succeeded by | SM Forhad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Md. Abu Shadik |
| Citizenship | Bangladesh |
| Party | Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | Political activist |
| Known for | |
| Organisation | Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir |
Previously, he was president of the University of Dhaka unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir during the 2024 academic session[4][5] and, is currently serving as the central International Affairs secretary of the organization.[6][7]
Early life and education
Shadik Kayem was born in Satkania Upazila of the Chattogram District. His father is a businessman.[5] 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 Chattogram and was admitted to the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka for the 2016-2017 academic session.[4]
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.[8][9]
In 2024, following the student–public uprising, Kayem publicly disclosed his position of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka University.[10][11] He was also a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination during 2024 quota reform movement.[12][13]
He was one of the first to refer to the siege of Ganabhaban event as Fath-e-Ganabhaban (lit. 'Conquest of Ganabhaban'), which he stated,
"The legacy of Fath-e-Makkah, Fath-e-Bangala, and Fath-e-Kustuntiniyya has led us to achieve Fath-e-Ganabhaban."[14][15]
He is the Central International Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.[16]
2025 DUCSU election
Shadik Kayem contested the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) as the Vice President (VP) candidate from the United Students' Alliance panel.[17] He was elected Vice President (VP) with 14,042 votes. His closest rival, Abidul Islam Khan of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal, received 5,708 votes.[18][19] He officially assumed office on September 14, 2025.[20][21]
Electoral history
| Year | Election | Position | Party/Alliance | Votes | Percentage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | DUCSU Election | Vice President | United Students' Alliance (USA) | 14,042 | 47.99% | Elected |
Activism
In addition to his political activities, Shadik has been involved with various non-political organizations[22]. 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.[4]
Controversy
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.[23][24]
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.[25] 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.[26]
