BCL in a shambles

On Saturday, two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists were locked in a clash at Chittagong College.

During the clash, Pinki (not her real name), a student of the college, got injured as she fell to the ground heavily while running away from the campus along with other fellows.  

“Such clash among different BCL factions has been a common phenomenon on the campus for over a year,” she said.

Students said BCL men often clash to establish supremacy on the college campus.

As a result, they remain in panic while staying on the campus lest rival BCL groups should clash with each other, they said. 

A student of the college, on condition of anonymity, said, “I used to come to the college every day. These days, I visit the campus only if I have any important class to attend."

The students also alleged that they had been under a constant pressure from BCL men to join their groups.

Talking to students and BCL activists, it was found that different BCL factions have been locked in clashes on the campus more than 30 times since June last year till date.

Sources in Chawkbazar Police Station also said over 50 students including BCL men were injured in such clashes.

Until 2015, Islami Chhatra Shibir, pro-Jamaat-e-Islami student body, used to dominate the college campus and three student dormitories for around 20 years. During the period, no other student organisations were allowed to run any activities on the college campus, said the students.   

BCL activists drove the Shibir men out of the campus and the dormitories on December 16 that year. Following police raids in the dormitories the same day, the college authorities shut the dorms. Since then, the dormitories have been shut and Shibir activists could not enter the campus. 

Meanwhile, BCL men have taken control of the campus but kept on fighting among themselves dividing into different groups, as no committee of the organisation has so far been formed. 

BCL insiders said at present, three factions are active on the campus -- one loyal to Chittagong city unit Awami League President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, another to Chittagong city Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and the other to Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam.

In the absence of any committee, BCL men are running activities under different groups. As there is no chain of command, they often clash with each other, the BCL insiders added.

Mahmudul Karim, a BCL activist of the college, said the city BCL leaders should immediately form the college committee of the organisation so that a chain of command can be established in the organisation.

Echoing Mahmudul, another BCL activist Abu Md Arif said outsiders have been seen taking part in the recent clashes. 

“We cannot control the activists as there is no committee,” he added.

Contacted, Nurul Azim Rony, general secretary of BCL of Chittagong city unit, acknowledged that there was no committee at the college, and said they would form one soon. 

“The college administration and police should take strict measures against those who take outsiders to the campus to create violence,” he said.

Asked, Jesmin Akter, principal of Chittagong College, said they had asked police to take action against those who are creating violence at the college.

“We have a police outpost on the campus to give security to students,” she said, adding, “Action will be taken if we get formal complaint against any.”