DHAKA — Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, is trying to energize its field activities and grassroots base. As part of that drive, the organization announced new and full committees for 45 key units simultaneously this week. But those committees have generated one controversy after another, with serious turmoil now roiling the organization.
Serious allegations against the committees include that leaders of the banned Chhatra League, non-students and married members have been given posts. Meanwhile, leaders who stood at the front of the July uprising and other past movements, and who were targeted by repression, attacks and cases under the fascist Awami League, have been left out — raising questions about the sincerity of the organization’s top leadership. Clashes have broken out in several districts. In some places road blockades and broom processions have been held by those denied positions. Clashes have caused injuries. Authorities have imposed Section 144 in Rangamati to contain the unrest. A large section of those denied posts has also protested in front of BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan.
Aggrieved leaders said the committee announcement was supposed to spark enthusiasm among workers after a long wait, but instead has triggered intense anger and controversy in various districts and cities. Some have announced their departure from the party out of bitterness over being denied expected posts. The placement of “inactive” and opportunistic figures in key positions has also created instability from grassroots to the center within Chhatra Dal. Internal conflict has put the chain of command of the organization on the verge of collapse.
Aggrieved leaders said political tensions could rise around opposition party field programs in the coming days. They warned this internal infighting could have a negative impact on Chhatra Dal’s strength in those programs.
Several Chhatra Dal central and grassroots leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many committee members have never been seen on the streets but were included with an eye on the upcoming Chhatra Dal council. Many from banned and rival student organizations have also been included — raising concerns that the organization’s discipline could be threatened. Meanwhile, many leaders who played roles on the streets and faced jail and persecution have been denied positions. They have questioned the basis of such appointments. Aggrieved members have also drawn the attention of BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the organizational guardian of Chhatra Dal, to investigate allegations of financial transactions.
Committees for 45 units
According to a notice signed by Chhatra Dal central office secretary (with vice-president status) Mo. Jahangir Alam, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir approved committees for 45 units across the country over two days. Of these, 22 are newly formed: Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), Barishal district and city, Bhola, Jhalakathi, Pabna, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi city, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Lakshmipur, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Jashore, Bandarban, Noakhali, Rangamati, Sunamganj, Cumilla South district and Kishoreganj district.
Full committees have also been declared for 23 units, including Dhaka city north and south, east and west. The others are Cumilla city, Mymensingh city, Mymensingh north and south district, Jamalpur, Netrokona, Manikganj, Narsingdi, Habiganj, Khagrachhari, Cumilla city, Rangamati Science and Technology University, Barishal University, Kishoreganj University, Jamalpur Science and Technology University, Rabindra University, Jamalpur Medical College, Sirajganj Medical College and Mymensingh Medical College.
Behind the unrest
Discontent spread immediately after the committee announcements — first on social media and then on the streets. Leaders from multiple areas alleged that non-students, businesspeople and married members were given positions while regular students were left out. Workers who had sacrificed were also undervalued in some places. Within hours of the announcements, leaders holding key positions in several newly formed district and city committees announced their resignations. Aggrieved workers in many places held broom processions and burned effigies of central leaders. Some described past struggles in Facebook Live videos through tears. Some have also announced they will leave Chhatra Dal politics out of bitterness.
Turmoil over the committees
Chhatra Dal’s district and city committees have included leaders from the banned Chhatra League, non-students, Chhatra Shibir, and members of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP). Clashes have broken out in several districts. In some places road blockades and broom processions have been held by those denied positions. At least 20 people have been injured in protests and clashes. Authorities had to impose Section 144 to control the situation.
Protest in front of BNP central office
Mixed reactions emerged over the full committees of four key units in metropolitan Dhaka. A large section of those denied positions protested last Sunday in front of BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan. They alleged that non-students, businesspeople and newcomers were given posts, that posts had been sold for money and that many tried-and-tested members had been left out.
Clashes, Section 144 in Rangamati
A clash erupted in Rangamati between the newly elected committee and those denied positions over the district Chhatra Dal committee announcement. At least 20 people from both sides were injured. Police and army members charged with batons to bring the situation under control. Authorities later imposed Section 144.
Chhatra Dal general secretary declared unwelcome in his own district
Aggrieved members held road blockades, protests, vandalism and rallies demanding cancellation of the newly announced Noakhali district and municipal Chhatra Dal committees and formation of new ones. Tires were burned on roads. They declared central Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin unwelcome in Noakhali. Protesters allege Nasir set up the committees with loyalists, excluding tried-and-tested members. They said 18 of the committee members are married.
Eight banned Chhatra League leaders on MMC committee
Aggrieved members have alleged that eight former leaders of the banned Chhatra League are on the 22-member Mymensingh Medical College (MMC) committee. They allege that while veteran activists were denied posts on the medical college Chhatra Dal committee, Chhatra League leaders were given them.
Road blockades in Cox’s Bazar and Barishal
Aggrieved members blocked the main road of Cox’s Bazar town by burning tires Sunday night, alleging that qualified and tried-and-tested leaders were excluded from the partial Cox’s Bazar district Chhatra Dal committee announced after two years. Similar protests and road blockades took place Monday evening on the Dhaka-Kuakata highway at Amtala intersection in Barishal city.
In a Facebook post expressing anger over the announced committees, central Vice-President Khorshed Alam Sohel alleged his comrades were singled out and excluded. Calling it bad politics, he said: “Surely nature does not forgive anyone.”
A former senior joint convener of the Habibullah Bahar University College Chhatra Dal expressed anger over not getting a place on the 400-member Dhaka city east committee. Members in Dinajpur also alleged the committee was formed unilaterally. In Bhola, the appointment of a Chhatra League leader who attacked BNP workers to a Dhaka city Chhatra Dal post also caused outrage.
Asked about the matter, Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said that in forming district committees, nominations for positions other than the top two were made in consultation with local BNP and other organizational leaders. “Committees have been announced based on past activities and roles in movements,” he said. “But because there is a big gap between the number of available posts and the number of aspirants, many qualified members could not be given their desired positions. It is natural for many to be aggrieved.”
On the Mymensingh Medical issue, Nasir said: “Chhatra League gave posts to many people indiscriminately there. That is why names of many people have come up who do not actually know about this.”
Denying allegations of financial transactions, the Chhatra Dal general secretary said: “There is no such thing. Such allegations are not acceptable.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report