The political boro bhai starts his day surrounded by his minions at his service. They are at his every beck and call. Servile, tail-chasing, eager to please, they orbit power in the hope of tasting it themselves. How far can one go, or rather, how low can one fall – for power?
In the Bangladesh film scene where political satire remains scarce, “The University of Chankharpul”, through wit and humour, explores the culture of sycophancy within student politics.
On the third day of the Amar Bhashar Cholochitro Utshob 1432, held at The University of Dhaka, the final screening of the day was "The University of Chankharpul". As evening fell over the TSC auditorium, audiences both young and old but predominantly the youth, queued in long lines to watch the film. To have the film screened at the very university it satirises is fitting, to say the least.
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Directed by Monirul Haque Akash, “The University of Chankharpul” is a 142 minutes long political satire that does not restrain itself from showing the grim realities of student politics. Inspired by a short story titled “Jhora Patar Dukkho Bilash” written by Rono Anowar, this 2026 film won the won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Full-Length Feature Film in the Bangladesh Panorama section of the Dhaka International Film Festival. The film screening was followed by an interactive discussion between the audience and the crew.
The film centres around the student politicians of the titular University of Chankharpul, where the words of the political boro bhai reigns supreme. This boro bhai is not a singular entity but rather a representation of a rigid hierarchy, a political culture once founded on idealism has now morphed into a system that disrupts education and corrodes a person’s being and morality.
In the University of Chankharpul, the student halls are ruled by the “Shorkari Dol” (Student wing of the ruling party), where student politicians routinely exploit those beneath them, and their minions torment the powerless. From corruption to bullying, the film explores the darker realities of campus politics. Ordinary students in halls regularly endure guestroom culture while the senior student politicians occupy their own rooms, some living in opulence. The way Haque portrays the story feels raw and unfiltered, and the narrative strikes a personal chord because it reflects the lived experience of countless Bangladeshi students.
In one particularly harrowing scene during a guestroom session, a student politician asks a student what his father does for a living before slapping him for failing to attend a political programme. Later, he confesses to his friends that he deliberately asked the question beforehand, as it was an unspoken assessment of class and solvency before deciding how far he could go.
The film has a wide set of characters, each portrayed by a cast of fresh young actors. One of the notable aspects of the film is that none of the characters have any names. They are addressed as their rank, moniker or simply, Bhai. When asked about it, the director, Akash Haque said that this is perhaps the first Bangladeshi feature film where none of the characters have names, adding that, in his opinion, a new filmmaker should have a new input.
“Names honour people. Over here (In ‘The University of Chankharpul’), there is no honour. You will perhaps recognise these characters but you will not know them”, he said.
The protagonist, also known as the “Horseman”, played by Devodyuti Aich, is an idealistic young man who dreams of becoming a politician. Aich successfully plays the role of a hopeful young man who does not shy away from using any means necessary to rise above his rank and achieve his goals, even if that means becoming yet another pawn in the game of politics. His stead, the graceful horse that got him the moniker, is almost a symbol akin to Aladin’s magic lamp, but here the stead allows one to rise above their ranks.
Rocky Khan plays the role of the University President, the leader that everyone is servile to, However, he too is yet another cog of the machine as the man is forced to answer to leaders who function beyond the campus walls. Aside from him, another primary antagonist was the Hall President, aptly portrayed by Boby Biswas. The hall president has an imposing presence, he is feared, and he does not shy away from getting his hands dirty. The campus correspondent, played by Mehedi Hasan Sohan, aptly portrayed the role of an opportunistic journalist who craves money over power. The friends of the horseman played by Chayan Mondol, Abu Sayeed, and S A Jibon. Akhtarazuzzaman Azad made a special appearance in one of the scenes.
One notable aspect of the film is the near-absence of female characters, aside from a few minor student politicians and a victim of moral policing. While the narrative is set within the male-dominated microcosm of a university campus, specifically a male student’s hall, and it does function as a satirical representation, the absence remains striking. Whether intentional or a shortcoming is open to interpretation, though the director has noted that obtaining permission to shoot in female halls was not possible.
The screenplay, producing, editing, art direction, music direction were all done by Akash Haque. Despite the limited resources and equipment, working with only one camera and one lens, the cinematography feels grounded and authentic. The music tracks titled “Sohomot Bhai” and “Rajnitir Moydan” were great.
When asked about why he wanted to make this film, the director Haque shared his own experiences in education institutions from The University of Dhaka to India. He shared that he always knew that the culture here is not suitable for education, depriving students of what they deserve. But it was only while studying abroad, did he fully realise injustice, and that prompted him to work on the story. After coming back to Bangladesh, he started working on the film.
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Boby Biswas revealed that he was initially brought onto “The University of Chankharpul” in a technical role, known at the time as an aspiring filmmaker. During the shoot, director Akash Haque placed him in front of the camera for a shot as an experiment, but his acting compelled the director to rework the character into a central role. “Before this film, my identity was rooted in filmmaking—I was deeply interested in screenwriting and film direction. Acting, however, was something I had never imagined for myself,” Biswas said. While shaping his character, Biswas drew subtle inspiration from the performances of Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis, adapting those influences in his own way while fully surrendering himself to Haque’s vision and direction.
“Throughout the making of this film, no amount of effort ever felt exhausting. The entire process felt celebratory—almost like a festival,” he reflected. “This film will remain one of the most beautiful chapters of my life, forever.”
While the film’s editing and pacing have room for improvement, the film’s ending seems fitting. The banality of evil, something that is grounded in reality hits close to home. What unfolds is not extraordinary, but expected: the logical outcome of power politics. The movie mostly satirizes the university campuses under the previous regime, however the question remains if things have changed since then? After all, the system still remains intact. “The University of Chankharpul” is devoid of romanticism. It offers a stark reflection of our campus politics, the fear and opportunism, and the price we continue to pay, all wrapped in sharp wit and humour. A promising addition to the film scene in Bangladesh.
“The University of Chankharpul” is being screened at Alliance Française de Dhaka today. It will also be released in theatres soon.
