In a dramatic reveal worthy of spymasters, the top two leaders of the Dhaka University unit of Islamic Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Jamaat e Islami, came to light for the first time this week.

Md Abu Shadik was unveiled as the president of Chhatra Shibir at DU. Better known as Shadik Kayem (the name on his Facebook profile), he is a student of the Political Science Department of the University of 2016-17 academic session. He has a meritorious background in DU academics.

But what really caused shockwaves was that this same Shadik had gained prominence as one of the faces of the July-August movement, as part of the leading group just outside the six central coordinators. He helped keep the movement going when the six central leaders were taken into custody by the Detective Branch.

Meanwhile, SM Farhad has been revealed as the general secretary of DU Shibir. He recently completed his graduation from the Institute of Social Welfare research. He is a student of 2017-18 academic session of the university.

It may be mentioned that both are from the Chittagong Hill Tracts and attended the same school before coming to DU.

Abu Shadik hails from Khagrachari and he completed his secondary school certificate (Dakhil) from Khagrachari Baitush Sharaf Madrasah, then completed his higher secondary certification (Alim) from Chittagong Baitush Sharaf Jabbarja Adarsha Kamil Madrasah, and then he got admitted in Dhaka University where he was a resident of Master Da Surja Sen Hall.

Abu Shadik played a significant role during the quota reform/anti-discrimination students movement. He had a major hand in the formulation and circulation of the Nine Points during the internet blackout. He also managed to coordinate efforts to provide safe shelter to some of the coordinators who were still outside during the infamous Detective Branch episode, according to UK-based investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer.

SM Farhad hails from Rangamati. He completed his Dakhil certification from Maini Bajtush Sharaf Madrasah, then completed his Alim certification from Chittagong Baitush Sharaf Jabbarja Adarsha Kamil Madrasah, and later took admission in Dhaka University.

According to Abdul Kader, another coordinator from a madrasagh background who was the main author of the 'Nine Points', SM Farhad played an important role during the movement, even risking his life. He clarified this through a Facebook post. Farhad was known as an excellent debater of in Kabi Jashimuddin Hall, where he was resident, and in the Dhaka University Debating society. He was the president of his hall's debating club. He won numerous awards in debating, once getting a prize from the then foreign minister, Abdul Momen.

Both the Shibir leaders used to live in their halls, yet never raised suspicions, adding to the air of mystery gripping the nation. It played into stereotypes in the popular imagination of Shibir's preference for stealth, and remarkable efficiency at it too. As if to rub it in, the DU ICS president belongs to the same hall as the president of the Chhatra League at DU, Mazharul Kabir, and the DU ICS general secretary belongs to the same hall as the Chhatra League general secretary, Tanbir Hasan Saikat. Yet neither had any clue of the enemy in their midst.

Asked about political situation and the exposure of ICS leaders of Dhaka University, a general student of the university, Tamzid Hossein, said:

"I see it as a positive change. In fact, they were among the most oppressed during the fascism period. Their democratic rights were taken away. In Bangladesh 2.0 we dream of a Bangladesh where everyone has the right to express their opinion, everyone has the opportunity to express their political position."

Asked about political practice in the campus, he said, "it is definitely desirable that there will be student politics in the campus. Because one of the reasons why Awami fascism was prolonged was the lack of politics. In that case, the political parties have to come up with a new political policy in Bangladesh. The political parties should also take measures to remove the disrespect for politics that was created due to the terror politics of the Chhatra League."

It may be mentioned, Islami Chhatra Shibir was banned on the Dhaka University campus by Poribesh Songshod. Although that wasn't enforceable, their presence had progressively dwindled in DU campus politics over the course of AL's 15- year regime.

"We who are alive in Shaheed-Gazi's independent Bangladesh have a long way to go. To fulfill the dream of our martyrs, we should build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh unitedly. If we do not succeed, the blood of all the martyrs of '47, '71 and '24 will be wasted. The sight of our sightless brothers will go in vain, if we fail to build an independent and sovereign Bangladesh without discrimination," Abu Shadik wrote on his Facebook timeline marking the success of the movement as a result of public participation.

Farhad decried attempts by some to take sole credit for the July-August uprising, calling it a contradiction to the movement's spirit of unity.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) to clear up the air so to speak, Farhad emphasised that the uprising was a collective effort.

"The movement was not driven by one group or ideology. Political parties from across the spectrum-BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, leftists-joined forces to resist fascism. To claim sole credit is against the spirit of the uprising," he said.

Farhad also addressed allegations of violence linked to Islami Chhatrashibir, specifically the notorious practice of "rog kata" (cutting tendons). In response to a journalist's question, he said, "If you search 'rog kata' on Google, you will find numerous reports of such crimes tied to Chhatra League, the student wing of the former ruling party, Awami League. There are no records linking these acts to Shibir."

Farhad announced that the full committee of Shibir's DU unit would be revealed soon. "We have named our president and general secretary, and the complete committee will be disclosed shortly. We just need some time," he said.

On the issue of student politics at Dhaka University, Farhad said, "There will be systematic student politics on campus. No one will be forced into political activity. Everything will be determined by the university administration. Once this structure is in place, student politics will take on a new, reformed shape."