‘BCL men’ ruin quota reformists’ iftar party
A group of alleged Chhatra League men yesterday barred Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad from holding an iftar party in Brahmanbaria town.
Ducsu VP Nurul Haque Nur, who was supposed to attend the programme as chief guest, could not enter the Grand-A-Malek Chinese Restaurant on Mashjid Road as the “BCL men” padlocked the front door of the venue around 5:00pm, said witnesses.
However, leaders of the pro-Awami League student front claimed that a group of “general students” stopped the iftar party as some Chhatra Shibir men were there.
Talking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, some organisers of the iftar party said they had reserved the restaurant for the programme by making an advance payment. But the programme could not be held as some “BCL activists” locked the front door of the restaurant.
Md Selim Uddin, OC of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, said Nur was travelling to Brahmanbaria from Dhaka by Chattala Express to join the iftar party. A tense situation was prevailing in the town over the programme, he added.
After receiving an instruction from police, railway officials stopped the Chat-tala Express around 3:30pm at Talshahar Railway Station, which is only a few kilometres away from Brahmanbaria.
A team of Brahmanbaria police went to Talshahar Railway Station and took Nur to the venue with protection around 5:30pm, the OC added.
The VP of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union could not enter the restaurant as he found it locked.
Talking to journalists in front of the venue, Nur, also a joint convener of Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, said he could not understand why the “BCL men” barred them from holding the programme.
“I have informed the central Chhatra League president and general secretary about the incident. If we had any links with the Jamaat-Shibir, the prime minister wouldn’t have invited us to the Gono Bhaban. We hope that central Chhatra League leaders will take actions in this regard.”
Robiul Hossain Rubel, president of Brahmanbaia district BCL, said, “Nur had made anti-government statements. Some Chhatra Shibir activists also came to the venue. Angered at this, a group of general students stopped the iftar party.”
Abdul Malek, owner of the restaurant, said some youths, identifying them-selves as BCL activists, drove the hosts out of the venue and locked the front door.
Nur left Brahmanbaria for Dhaka by another train at 7:45pm.
Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad had carried out a movement last year demanding cancellation of quota in government jobs.
Meanwhile, some passengers of Chattala Express said they remained stranded at Talshahar Railway Station for around one and a half hours after police stopped the train.
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