Controversial Activities: BCL removes 21 from central body

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League student organisation, last night relieved 21 members of its central executive committee of their posts.

The move comes after 11 others submitted their resignation at different times, amid allegations that some members of the committee were involved in various irregularities and misdeeds, including being non-students, alleged extortionists, drug dealers, and former expelled BCL members.  

The 21 were relieved of their duties after allegations brought against them were found to be true, read a press statement from the BCL.

The committee has 301 members.

The now-vacant posts include those of 18 vice-presidents, three assistant secretaries, an office secretary, a religion affairs secretary, a health affairs secretary, two deputy office secretaries, two deputy health affairs secretaries, two deputy agricultural affairs secretaries, two deputy cultural affairs secretaries, one deputy library affairs secretary, and one deputy publication affairs secretary.

Earlier, a faction of BCL leaders began an agitation alleging that the new central committee included a few married people, non-students, extortionists, expelled BCL men, drug dealers and addicts.

At a meeting in May, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the then BCL president and general secretary to drop the controversial leaders from the central committee.

Later, Chhatra League revealed a list of 16 “controversial leaders” who were awarded different posts in the committee.

On May 28, the student wing announced that it would vacate 19 posts primarily, in the face of the protests.