Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed concern over the sweeping victory of Islami Chhatra Shibir in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. His remarks drew a sharp response from Meghmallar Basu, a GS candidate in the same election.

In an open letter, Basu wrote, “Mr. Tharoor, despite massive state interference, Islamist extremism, and financial muscle power, I still secured nearly 5,000 votes. That makes me a legitimate representative of Dhaka University’s progressive students. While your analysis that people are disillusioned with mainstream parties’ corruption is true, you fail to see that your words inadvertently serve as propaganda for Jamaat.”

He continued, “Why is Shibir’s victory ‘alarming’ to you? Weren’t you the same person who stoked right-wing propaganda during the Sabarimala issue in Kerala, just to weaken the CPI(M)? Before advising a neighboring country, first defeat Hindutva fascists in India’s own national elections. We will fight Islamist fascism in Bangladesh ourselves.”

Earlier, Tharoor had described Shibir’s win as “a warning sign for the future, reflecting public frustration with both Awami League and BNP, pushing voters toward Jamaat not for its religious agenda, but because it has not yet been tainted by corruption and misrule.”