JCD office padlocked

The Chhatra Dal office at Nayapaltan has been locked by aggrieved leaders protesting the recently announced central committee of the pro-BNP organisation. Photo: Amran Hossain

Aggrieved Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders yesterday locked its central office at the BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters protesting the recently announced JCD central committee.

On October 14 BNP chief Khaleda Zia approved a 201-member partial committee of the party's youth wing with Rajib Ahsan as president and Akramul Hasan as general secretary, sparking huge dissatisfaction among deprived leaders and activists.

Around 200 JCD men gathered in front of the party's central office since 11:00am and continued their agitation for several hours for the fourth consecutive day.

Terming the new committee “incompetent” and a “pocket committee” of a few BNP leaders, they demanded that Khaleda Zia dissolve the new JCD central body and form a new one comprising “tested and dedicated” leaders and activists.

Talking to The Daily Star, an aggrieved leader, who is also a joint secretary general of JCD's former committee, said their agitation will continue till Khaleda forms a new committee.

There are allegations that the new committee is marked by a dearth of regular students and quite a good number of them are in their thirties while dozens are facing criminal cases. Only 40 to 50 of the 201-member committee have their “studentship” with MPhil and other equivalent courses.

Stick-welding activists during an angry demonstration in the area yesterday. Photo: Amran Hossain

Niaz Makhdum Masum Billah, an accused in the murder case of Buet student Sabekunnahar Sony, has been made a vice president. Sony was killed during a gunfight between two JCD factions in the capital in 2003.

There are at least 30 married leaders and 40 businessmen in the new committee, JCD insiders said. 

Agitators also set fire on the effigies of BNP student affairs secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee and former JCD president Sultan Salauddin Tuku for incorporating their loyalists in the committee.

New leaders of JCD were seen sitting at the Jubo Dal office of the BNP headquarters as they found their office locked.