PM issues warning; BCL central body to be dissolved
Hasan Jahid Tusher and Najmul Alam Nobin
The Awami League (AL) high command might soon dissolve the central committee of its associate body Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in the wake of recent series of violence at several educational institutions across the country.
The party high-ups are extremely annoyed with the recent BCL activities and the move may come immediately after the upazila parishad elections, sources said.
Party insiders said the violence occurred as the BCL chain of command collapsed completely over establishing supremacy on the campus. A total lack of coordination among the rank and file of the student body is also there following expiry of all its committees including the central one, they added.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is utterly unhappy with the activities of Chhatra League and will take stern action against those responsible for such activities,” AL Presidium member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said yesterday.
Terming the violent activities of the BCL “totally undesirable”, she told The Daily Star that the PM has already issued a warning to the party.
Sources said Hasina last week warned BCL President Mahmud Hasan Ripon and General Secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton of stern action against them if their activities tarnish the government’s image.
Hasina earned praise when she brought radical changes in the BCL leadership on April 4, 2006 giving the charge to regular students aged under 29. But during its two-year tenure, that committee failed to implement similar changes in its metropolitan, district and upazila committees and those in different universities and colleges. This gave rise to different factions within the BCL and increased internal feuds.
Talking to The Daily Star, many BCL leaders said the student body has gone out of control as the central committee lost its control on any unit committee.
Over 20 incidents of violent activities, including gun battle among BCL factions in Jahangirnagar University, took place in Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, different medical colleges and other public colleges.
The authorities have, however, taken no significant action so far against persons responsible for those activities.
At least 20 BCL leaders were injured, most of them chopped repeatedly, on Dhaka University campus in the last 20 days.
Meanwhile, BCL central committee suspended its JU unit for a month following two days’ internal clashes. But it has failed to take any action against the BCL leaders who have kept Chittagong University inactive for several days demanding resignation of the vice-chancellor.
Talking to The Daily Star, BCL President Ripon said, “We have already suspended the Jahangirnagar University unit for a month and issued a warning to the Jagannath University unit.” He urged law enforcement agencies to take immediate action if BCL men violate the law.
State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj said, “We are monitoring the situation at different universities and colleges so that we can take instant measures to prevent any untoward incident and ensure safety and security of students and teachers.”
He told The Daily Star that law enforcement agencies have been directed not to tolerate any unruly incidents anywhere in the country including the educational institutions.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
