Alongside the central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal, the new committee of its Dhaka University (DU) unit could also be announced at any time. With preparations for a change in the central leadership almost final, there is intense discussion over the new leadership of the DU Chhatra Dal, considered one of the country’s most important units. Several party sources say the DU unit’s new committee could be announced this week along with the central committee.
In March 2024, a DU Chhatra Dal committee was announced for one year with Ganesh Chandra Ray Sahos as president and Nahiduzzaman Shipon as general secretary. Although discussion of forming a new committee began before the set term ended, it was delayed for various political and organisational reasons.
Several leaders in contention for the top posts
Party sources say several leaders are in contention for the president and general secretary posts. The names of joint general secretary Josim Khan and Gazi Mohammad Al-Amin (from the 2013-14 session) and assistant general secretary Md Mahmudul Hasan are being discussed as possible top leaders.
Also in the discussion are B M Kawsar, former general secretary of Bijoy Ekattor Hall (2014-15 session), and joint general secretaries Saif Khan and Alamgir Hossen Alam.
From the 2015-16 session, joint secretaries Bazlur Rahman Bijoy and Abidul Islam Khan; and from the 2016-17 session, literature and publications secretary Abu Hayat Md Zulfikar Jesan, education and study-circle secretary Mahmudul Hasan and publicity secretary Tanvir Hasan are on the list of possible leaders.
Also in the leadership race, party sources say, are 2017-18 session hospitality secretary Ariful Islam, international secretary Mehedi Hasan and liberation-war and research secretary Syed Imam Hasan Anik.
Emphasis on role in movements and organisational skill
Policy-level Chhatra Dal leaders say that in choosing the new leadership, weight is being given to an active role in past movements, organisational skill, personal image and acceptability among ordinary students. The central leadership is also prioritising regular students and controversy-free leadership.
On this, BNP senior joint secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “I do not have official information on the committee. But changes can come for the sake of the organisation’s dynamism. This is a normal and continuous process.”
Activists want sacrificing, acceptable leadership
The university Chhatra Dal’s activists expect that leaders who played an active, sacrificing role in past movements, including the July uprising, will be properly valued, and that the new committee will be free of any syndicate or person-centred influence.
Aspirant and current joint general secretary Josim Khan said: “In the context of a new Bangladesh, the main goal of our leader Mr Tareque Rahman is a blend of merit, sacrifice and a clean image. We want leadership that can play the fullest role in realising the leader’s goal and is at the same time a model and reliable leadership for ordinary students.”
Literature and publications secretary Abu Hayat Md Zulfikar Jesan said: “The time has come to value the contributions of those who bravely stayed on the streets in every movement to establish the country’s democracy and students’ rights during the long fascist rule, and who suffered jail, oppression, torture and persecution. Those who have close contact with ordinary students on campus and who, rising above self-interest, have shown the utmost dedication, sacrifice and commitment to the organisation are the most fit for leadership.”
He added: “I believe the organisation will choose a leadership combining sacrifice, capability, acceptability and organisational skill — one that can establish the DU Chhatra Dal as an even stronger and more student-friendly organisation in the days ahead.”
Another aspirant, joint secretary Alamgir Hossen Alam, said: “Because of 17 years of movement and the Chhatra League’s absolute dominance on campus, the Chhatra Dal’s relationship with ordinary students could not deepen as hoped. So the DU Chhatra Dal needs leadership capable of playing an effective role in winning students’ demands and that made the greatest contribution in past movements.”
He added: “Under the leadership of those who prioritise the organisation’s interest over self-interest, the Chhatra Dal will spread even more widely among ordinary students.”
Party sources say that soon after the central committee is announced, the names of the new DU unit leadership may also be released. Interest and expectation over the new committee have thus built up among Chhatra Dal activists on campus.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report