Disgruntled BCL men call off protest after assurance of remedy

A faction of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), which claims it has been “deprived” of posts in the central committee, has called off its protests following assurances of remedial measures. The representatives of two factions had a long meeting on Sunday night and the decision to end the agitation was taken there.

Together, they went to the political office of Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina in Dhanmondi around 9:30pm and had a meeting with senior party leaders. It has been learnt that talks were held with joint general secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman and organising secretaries Bahauddin Nasim and Mozammel

Haque.  The meeting lasted a couple of hours, sources said. The “deprived” faction called off its sit-in programme after the meeting.

Saif Babu, spokesperson of the “deprived” faction and former publicity affairs secretary of the BCL, said assurances given by the senior leaders prompted them to call off the protest around 1:30am. On May 13, the Chhatra League, student body of the AL, announced its 301-member full central committee, sparking instant protests by a faction of the activists.

The protesting group alleged that married, non-student, businessmen, drug-abusers and dealers had been included in the committee, ignoring dedicated leaders and activists.

At least 200 deprived leaders and activists staged a demonstration on the Dhaka University campus that day against the inclusion of controversial persons in the union central committee. During the demonstration, at least 15 BCL activists were injured when they were attacked by followers of many of those who had secured posts. An attempt by the protesters to hold a press conference at Madhur Canteen in the evening was also foiled.

Disgruntled BCL men call off protest after assurance of remedy

A faction of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), which claims it has been deprived of posts in the central committee, has called off its protests following assurances of remedial measures. The representatives of two factions had a long meeting on Sunday night and the decision to end the agitation was taken there. Together, they went to the political office of Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina in Dhanmondi around 9:30pm and had a meeting with senior party leaders. It has been learnt that talks were held with joint general secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman and organising secretaries Bahauddin Nasim and Mozammel Haque. The meeting lasted a couple of hours, sources said. The deprived faction called off its sit-in programme after the meeting. Saif Babu, spokesperson of the deprived faction and former publicity affairs secretary of the BCL, said assurances given by the senior leaders prompted them to call off the protest around 1:30am. On May 13, the Chhatra League, student body of the AL, announced its 301-member full central committee, sparking instant protests by a faction of the activists. The protesting group alleged that married, non-student, businessmen, drug-abusers and dealers had been included in the committee, ignoring dedicated leaders and activists. At least 200 deprived leaders and activists staged a demonstration on the Dhaka University campus that day against the inclusion of controversial persons in the union central committee. During the demonstration, at least 15 BCL activists were injured when they were attacked by followers of many of those who had secured posts. An attempt by the protesters to hold a press conference at Madhur Canteen in the evening was also foiled.