BCL committee fiasco: Deprived faction again go on sit-in

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 11:55, May 27, 2019 | Updated : 11:57, May 27, 2019

The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists who were not included in the newly announced full-fledged committee have again gone on an indefinite sit-in program.
Following May 19 when the committee was first announced, deprived and higher-post-seeking BCL members have demanded the re-formation of the newly announced committee.
The BCL activists from this deprived faction also demanded punishment of those who had attacked them while they were demonstrating at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture again around 1am on Monday (May 27).
Earlier on Sunday (May 26), a press release signed by the central president and general secretary of the Chhatra League was issued, which stated that the newly formed full-fledged committee would pay tribute to Bangabandhu's portrait at Dhanmondi 32 on Monday morning.
Cry of the deprived
Rakib Hossain, former program and planning affairs secretary of the central committee and spokesperson of deprived faction, said: “Those who have sweated to strengthen the hands of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been excluded from the committee. The assurances given to us have not been implemented yet."
Terming the tribute as a humiliation of Bangabandhu, the former BCL member said: "Chhatra League’s president and general secretary want to place wreaths and pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, despite all the controversies surrounding them.
"If these controversial individuals are able to pay tribute once, they will immediately be recognized with their new organization designation. It is our tradition to pay tribute to Bangabandhu before taking charge."
A total of 16 new Chhatra League leaders were issued show-cause notices on May 15, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directives of dropping controversial men from the organization, and gave them 24 hours. But it has been 10 days and there has yet to be any decision made in this regard.
Chhatra League top-brass responds
When contacted, Chhatra League General Secretary Golam Rabbani said: "The complaints are being scrutinized. We will remove the controversial ones from Chhatra League before Eid so that those who are deserving can be here."
Previously, Rabbani said, eight among 16 had submitted their proofs in response to the allegations made against them, and they have given these men more time, as the organization does not want anybody who is innocent to suffer.
A look back
On May 19, following the attack upon them twice by other Chhatra League leaders, Chhatra League's deprived faction had gone on a hunger strike first, then staged a sit-in.
The deprived faction called off their earlier sit-in program later the same night, as Awami League top-brass leaders had given them assurances of: meeting with the premier; fair trial for the attacks at Modhur Canteen and Teacher-Student Centre (TSC); and removal of controversial leaders from the central committee upon further investigatio, and replacing them with dedicated leaders who were deprived from posts.
On May 20, Chhatra League expelled one of its activists and suspended four others over clashes centering the newly announced full-fledged committee.
Chhatra League announced its 301-member full-fledged central committee on May 13, a year after its National Council was held.
Around 15 were left injured due to the internal clash centring on the new committee.

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