Rayhanul Islam :
Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League, are passing busy time as the much-awaited 29th central council is going to be held on May 11 and 12 after a gap of around eight months.
The DU unit council will be held tomorrow (Sunday). AL General Secretary and Road Transport and
Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader will attend it as the chief guest. The aspirants, expecting top posts in the central and DU units, are lobbying with the high-ups of the AL as well as the top BCL leaders. With the announcement of new council dates, BCL leaders and activists have started rival campaigns.
AL President Sheikh Hasina, however, had made it clear that lobbying would not be entertained and that the leaders would be elected on the basis of merit.
Many aspirants also fear of the regular practice of the influence from ‘syndicate’ led by some former BCL leaders and AL high ups, in reshaping the central committee since 2006.
A vice president of the organization seeking anonymity told The New Nation that “syndicate” is a cause of frustration for the honest, meritorious and popular student leaders. Syndicate had always chosen their favorable leaders in every council in the past.
“If the present syndicate is abolished, then another syndicate will rise up. So, we can’t expect to pick up syndicate-influence free leaders without direct interference of the AL President,” he added.
Some leaders think that syndicate of the BCL is becoming inactive as they have already known that Sheikh Hasina will not allow any inferior quality leaders in the upcoming committee. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader also told the media that BCL will be sorted out in a new way. There will be zero tolerance for any criminal activities.
The two-year tenure of the present BCL committee, led by Saifur Rahman Sohag and SM Jakir Hossain, formed through the 28th national council in 2015, expired on July 26 last year.
BCL Central Committee General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain told The New Nation that eligible, meritorious and regular students will come in the leadership.
When asked about the age limit, Jakir said as most of the district and sub-district committees we formed considering the age limit at 29, so we also will likely to take the same age limit in the national council. However, the final decision will come from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In BCL constitution, the age limit has been fixed at 27 as the maximum. But the Prime Minister gave two years as grace due to the delayed holding of the last council.
“There is no syndicate in BCL. Sheikh Hasina’s decision is the final decision for BCL,” he added.
Top aspirants are:
Barishal region: Vice President Ruhul Amin Howlader, Law Secretary Al Nahian Khan Joy, Relief and Disaster Secretary Yeaz Al Raid, Agriculture Secretary Borkot Hossen Howlader, Assistant Secretary Khadimul Bashar Joy, Sabur khan, Deputy Entertainment Secretary Arifuzzaman Al Imran, DU Kabi Jashim Uddin Hall President Arif Hossain, Deputy Publication Secretary Sheikh Owali Asif, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Arif Ibne Ali and DU Bijoy Ekattor Hall Secretary Nayon Howlader.
Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League, are passing busy time as the much-awaited 29th central council is going to be held on May 11 and 12 after a gap of around eight months.
The DU unit council will be held tomorrow (Sunday). AL General Secretary and Road Transport and
Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader will attend it as the chief guest. The aspirants, expecting top posts in the central and DU units, are lobbying with the high-ups of the AL as well as the top BCL leaders. With the announcement of new council dates, BCL leaders and activists have started rival campaigns.
AL President Sheikh Hasina, however, had made it clear that lobbying would not be entertained and that the leaders would be elected on the basis of merit.
Many aspirants also fear of the regular practice of the influence from ‘syndicate’ led by some former BCL leaders and AL high ups, in reshaping the central committee since 2006.
A vice president of the organization seeking anonymity told The New Nation that “syndicate” is a cause of frustration for the honest, meritorious and popular student leaders. Syndicate had always chosen their favorable leaders in every council in the past.
“If the present syndicate is abolished, then another syndicate will rise up. So, we can’t expect to pick up syndicate-influence free leaders without direct interference of the AL President,” he added.
Some leaders think that syndicate of the BCL is becoming inactive as they have already known that Sheikh Hasina will not allow any inferior quality leaders in the upcoming committee. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader also told the media that BCL will be sorted out in a new way. There will be zero tolerance for any criminal activities.
The two-year tenure of the present BCL committee, led by Saifur Rahman Sohag and SM Jakir Hossain, formed through the 28th national council in 2015, expired on July 26 last year.
BCL Central Committee General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain told The New Nation that eligible, meritorious and regular students will come in the leadership.
When asked about the age limit, Jakir said as most of the district and sub-district committees we formed considering the age limit at 29, so we also will likely to take the same age limit in the national council. However, the final decision will come from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In BCL constitution, the age limit has been fixed at 27 as the maximum. But the Prime Minister gave two years as grace due to the delayed holding of the last council.
“There is no syndicate in BCL. Sheikh Hasina’s decision is the final decision for BCL,” he added.
Top aspirants are:
Barishal region: Vice President Ruhul Amin Howlader, Law Secretary Al Nahian Khan Joy, Relief and Disaster Secretary Yeaz Al Raid, Agriculture Secretary Borkot Hossen Howlader, Assistant Secretary Khadimul Bashar Joy, Sabur khan, Deputy Entertainment Secretary Arifuzzaman Al Imran, DU Kabi Jashim Uddin Hall President Arif Hossain, Deputy Publication Secretary Sheikh Owali Asif, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Arif Ibne Ali and DU Bijoy Ekattor Hall Secretary Nayon Howlader.
