The September 9 DUCSU elections have marked a historic first with the Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, securing victory at Dhaka University, long regarded as a secular stronghold of nationalist politics. The defeat of BNP’s student wing, Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal, which it blamed on rigging, has deepened the party’s crisis and exposed its dwindling influence since the fall of the Awami League government in 2024. While Jamaat has quietly consolidated support across key institutions, the BNP has been weakened by internal rifts, violence, and misplaced priorities. The outcome signals new challenges for the BNP ahead of the 2026 general elections, where alliances between Jamaat, religious groups, and the National Citizen Party could further sideline it amid growing public nostalgia for the stability once provided by the Awami League.