‘Deprived’ BCL leaders stage demo at DU

A section of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders, who could not make it to the new central committee of the pro-Awami League student body, demonstrated at Dhaka University today.

Protesting the assault on them inflicted on Monday, they formed a human chain at the base of ‘Aparajeyo Bangla’ and decried the inclusion of “controversial leaders” in its 301-member full committee, our campus correspondent reports.

The human chain, attended by some 50 “deprived” leaders, demanded that the new committee be dissolved immediately and those who assaulted them at Madhur Canteen be punished.

BM Lipi, cafeteria and common room affairs secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), claimed that many “eligible leaders” were dropped out from the committee.

“Many controversial, non-students, married ones, drug dealers and job holders were given posts in the committee,” she alleged at the programme.

THE NEW COMMITTEE

The pro-Awami League student body Chhatra League on Monday announced its 301-member full-fledged central committee, touching off controversy and demonstration by some of those who could not make it to the new committee.

The committee included a few married ones, non-students, alleged extortionists, expelled BCL men, drug dealers and addicts, according to sources in the student organisation.

Besides, BCL insiders said, many dedicated leaders and activists were deprived, while those allegedly having connections with BNP, its pro-student wing Chhatra Dal as well as Chhatra Shibir have been included in the new committee.

The 301-member full-fledged central executive committee was formed about a year after BCL’s 29th national council on May 11-12 last year.

Later, Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon became president and Golam Rabbani general secretary as nominated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 31 that year.