Post-deprived BCL leaders begin sit-in at DU
The faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders who were deprived from posts, yesterday began an indefinite sit-in on the Dhaka University campus protesting a “fresh assault” on them.
They claimed that BCL General Secretary Golam Rabbani and his followers attacked them inside Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) around 2:30am.
Fifteen minutes into the attack, the agitated BCL men started a hunger strike at the base of Raju memorial sculpture. But in the morning, they said they would stage an indefinite sit-in instead of observing a hunger strike.
“We first started a hunger strike to protest the attack. Later, we decided to go on an indefinite sit-in considering the month of Ramadan,” said Tanvir Hasan Saikat, a former central committee leader of BCL.
They will continue the demonstration until they get justice for the attack on them. They also want assurance from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that their demands over the “controversial” leaders in the newly formed BCL central committee will be fulfilled, said Tanvir.
Saif Babu, spokesperson of the post-deprived BCL faction and also former publicity affairs secretary of the student organisation, said BCL President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and General Secretary Golam Rabbani held a meeting at TSC last night with a delegation of the “deprived” leaders to resolve the problem.
The meeting came following the instruction from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the allegation that “controversial” leaders have been included in the newly formed BCL central committee.
“They [Shovon-Rabbani] are trying to save the 16 listed controversial leaders although the Awami League top-brass told us the list came from Gono Bhaban. We were asking them about this matter,” said Rakib Hossain, former programme and planning affairs secretary of BCL.
“Suddenly Rabbani charged against BM Lipi Akter, BCL deputy cultural affairs secretary, for giving a speech against him at a media talk show,” Rakib said.
He alleged that Rabbani was furious with Lipi’s reply; he verbally abused and slapped her.
“Some of Rabbani’s followers also attacked other deprived leaders,” Rakib and Babu said.
Around 3am, Shovon and Rabbani tried to calm down the protesters amid rain but they told both leaders to leave.
At one stage, BCL leader Golam Rabbani told the protesters that he would submit resignation letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today, the strikers claimed.
Denying the allegations made by the agitating BCL leader, Golam Rabbani told the Daily Star, “No one was attacked. There were some heated exchanges. They are (deprived leaders) doing this under the instructions of a special syndicate.”
On May 13, at least 200 deprived leaders and activists staged a demonstration on the DU campus, protesting the inclusion of “controversial” persons in the central committee.
At least 15 BCL activists were injured as followers of those who had secured posts attacked during a press conference of the post-deprived faction at Madhur Canteen.