Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders and activists across the country unleashed angry outburst against formation of new committees.
This sudden blow came when JCD, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was taking preparations to intensify the movement for freeing jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and for a free and fair national election.
At least three violent incidents took place within a span of 15 days in Sylhet, Barisal and Rajshahi over JCD’s new committees.
One JCD leader has been killed in factional clash in Sylhet.
BNP high command recently instructed the party and its front and associated bodies to strengthen respective organisations through updating the committees in all branches so that the organisations could play decisive roles in the current movement for freeing Khaleda and for a free and fair general election under a neutral government, the party leaders said.
The next general election is scheduled for January 28, 2019, at the latest.
On Sunday a group of JCD leaders and activists of Rajshahi city unit locked the city BNP office protesting at the new committees in six thanas and in three colleges in the city announced on Saturday.
Rajshahi city BNP general secretary Shafiqul Islam Milon admitted the matter of locking the city office by a faction of JCD leaders and activists.
Talking to New Age Milon said he heard the incident of locking the office over committee formations, adding that he was not well-informed about the real situation.
The city BNP general secretary said they would sit with the dissident group in the evening.
JCD Rajshahi city unit vice-president Md Arifuzzaman claimed that without discussing with anyone the new committees of six thana and three college units were announced on Saturday night.
Arifuzzman said those were given posts in the committees were not ‘competent.’
The committees of Boalia, Rajpara, Motihar, Shah Mokhdum, Kashiadanga and Chandrima thana units and Rajshahi City College, Rajshahi College and New Government Degree College units were announced through press release signed by JCD Rajshahi city unit president Asaduzzman and general secretary Rafiqul Islam.
JCD Rajshahi city unit president and general secretary could not be reached over phone for their comments.
On August 20, rebel leaders and activists of JCD Barisal district and city units staged demonstration holding brooms in hands in the city against new committees of Barisal district and city units.
The demonstrators who did not get any post in the committees alleged that the new committees announced on August 19 were formed comprising ‘non-students’.
The dissident leaders and activists also burnt effigy of JCD central unit president Razib Ahsan.
The protesters also locked BNP office in the city and still continue their protests.
On August 11, Sylhet city JCD former assistant publicity secretary Fayzul Haque Raju was killed in front of the residence of newly elected Sylhet city mayor Arifiul Haque Chowdhury in a clash between two rival groups of JCD.
Source: New Age.
