Shadik Kayem
Md. Abu Shadik, better known as Shadik Kayem, is a Bangladeshi student activist who has been the vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union since 2025. He was also a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination during 2024 quota reform movement.
Previously, he was president of the University of Dhaka unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir during the 2024 academic session and, is currently serving as the central publication secretary of the organization.
Early life and education
Shadik Kayem was born in Satkania Upazila of the Chattogram District. His father is a businessman. 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.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.In 2024, following the student–public uprising, Kayem publicly disclosed his position of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka University.
He was one of the first to refer to the siege of Ganabhaban event as Fath-e-Ganabhaban, which he stated,
He is the Central Publication Secretary of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.
2025 DUCSU election
Shadik Kayem contested the Dhaka University Central Students' Union as the Vice President candidate from the United Students' Alliance panel. 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. He officially assumed office on September 14, 2025.Electoral history
Activism
In addition to his political activities, Shadik Kayem has been involved with various non-political organizations. He served as an advisory member of Students Against Violence Everywhere, 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. 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.Criticism
On 1 December 2025, Shadik Kayem filed a lawsuit against nine meme-related Facebook pages—including DUCSU Konthoshor, Bongograph, Amar DUCSU, Kather Kella, Rowmari, and Yearki—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.On 2 December 2025, the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal issued a statement alleging that Kayem had curtailed freedom of expression online by filing cyber-related cases, and called for the withdrawal of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also prompted protests from members of the cultural and media community. On 6 December 2025, cartoonist and Unmad 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.
On 9 December 2025, the UK-based human rights organization 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.
In January 2026, criticism also emerged following a DUCSU-organized concert titled Kuashar Gaan faced criticism after reports emerged that cigarettes were distributed for free at the venue. Students expressed disapproval on social media, while organisers later stated that they were unaware of the distribution and issued apologies.