Following the dissolution of the central committee, leaders of BNP’s student affiliate now demand a ‘six-month interim panel’.
At a media call on Saturday (Jun 22), members of the recently-dissolved central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) also demanded that the next committee include members of the existing body as well.
The leaders have demanded the existing committee stay in power for the next six months, and that the next full committee includes members from the existing committee as well.
“The leadership did not pay heed even after five years after the formation of the committee with a two-year term. That’s why we pleaded to Tarique Rahman for a six-month interim committee so that the existing leaders can finish the incomplete organisation activities across the country”, Ikhtiyar Rahman Kabir, a vice president of the recently-dissolved committee, said.
According to BNP's press release that announced the dissolution of the party, only those who had passed the SSC or equivalent exams after 2000 may contest for the posts.
However, JCD leaders have argued that having passed their SSC (or equivalent) exams in 1996-1997, there is not much of an age difference between them and those who can contest.
"The higher-ups have said we [the current leaders] are too old to remain in the committee anymore," Kabir said. "However, we only have a few years of an age difference with those who passed their SSC after 2000. This cannot be a valid reason."
During the press conference at the BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters, it was claimed that “state agents” were behind the dissolution of the committee.
"It was dissolved suddenly the night before Eid," said Kabir before claiming "a syndicate conspired” to dissolve the existing committee.
The existing JCD central committee was dissolved on Jun 3.
A press release, signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said a new committee would be formed within the next 45 days, based upon the opinion of its councillors.
It also said the schedule of the JCD’s council would be announced later.
In October 2014, JCD’s last committee was formed making Rajib Ahsan its president and Akramul Hasan its general secretary.