The student wing of Awami League (AL) has held only three national councils in the last 12 years, saturating itself with a huge number of aged and non-student 'student leaders', sources said. As a result, there is now a severe leadership crisis at all levels, from the centre down to the grassroots units, of the country's leading student body.

Sources said since the formation of the present BCL central committee four years back, no more than 30 out of its 201 members have remained active in student politics to date.

They also said most of some 50 'student leaders' vying for the top five powerful posts--president, vice president, general secretary, joint secretary and organising secretary--are not regular students any more and aged between 30 and 40 years.

Many of them, who were busy with moneymaking and other personal or professional affairs, have now returned to the organisation's pavilion ahead of the council. They are lobbying BCL units, leaders and workers, and AL offices and leaders, and even knocking at the party chief's residence, Sudha Sadan, day and night for securing seats on the new central body.

Senior AL leaders said they may consider matured leaders as the president and the general secretary of the next BCL central committee, but the remaining posts will go to young regular students. They will discuss the matter with AL President Sheikh Hasina tomorrow and finalise the BCL top leadership criteria, party sources said.

Hasina is scheduled to return from the USA today after treatment of hearing ailments and inaugurate the two-year-late national council in the Dhanmondi Club playground, where 25 councillors from each of the BCL's 88 organisational districts and the current central leaders will get together.

The BCL meanwhile has formed a council preparation committee headed by its Vice President Shahajada Mohiuddin, with 14 sub-committees working under it.

Shahajada said they expect to complete all preparations for the council by today, adding the new central committee might be smaller in size but have more secretarial posts.

BCL Vice President Baloram Podder as the chief election commissioner of the council will oversee the voting by about 2,600 to 2,700 councillors to form the new committee. The ballot will begin at 9:00am and end at 5:00pm on April 4 without any break and the results will be announced the same day.

But generally, BCL activists are in doubt whether the election process will be a fair one, as they fear the present BCL top shots will probably manipulate the votes in favour of the candidates of their choice.

Allegations of bribing are also rife. The last national council on April 3, 2002 was also held amid intense lobbying, muscle flexing and bribery.

One of the central vice presidents and two candidates are reportedly doling out handsome amounts of money and mobile phone cards to the councillors to manipulate the polls. They are also allegedly arranging bus tickets, and board and lodging in the capital for the BCL district unit leaders.

One candidate even admitted to The Daily Star that he is spending money to woe councillors to support him.

But, BCL President Liaqat Sikder brushed off the allegation of bribing and said strict action would be taken against any one found guilty.

He blamed oppression by the 4-party coalition government for the delay in arranging councils and said, "But to ensure better leadership I think that it's necessary to hold councils regularly in the future."

Those whom the AL high-ups are reportedly considering as the next central president and general secretary of the BCL include Rafiqul Islam Kotowal, Marufa Akther Poppy, Ashraful Azim Rubon, Saifuzzaman Shekhor, Zakir Hossain Maruf and Qamrul Hasan Khokon.

Among other aspirants for the top two posts are Khan Mainul Islam Mostak, Delwar Hossain, Miraj Hossain, Jahir Uddin Mahmud Lipton, Mazhar Anam, Morsheduzzaman Selim, Salauddin Mahmud Chowdhury, Momin Patwari, Abdul Alim, Hemayet Uddin, Sheikh Reza and Gaffer Dewan Razib.

Insiders said at least one month after the national council, new committees of BCL Dhaka University and Dhaka City North and South units will be formed through holding unit councils.