"The AL chief has instructed to leave out the leaders who are over 29 years," AL joint secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday after a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition and AL chief Sheikh Hasina where a number of former BCL leaders were present.

"Those who passed the SSC examinations before 1993 also can't be candidates for the council posts," Quader said quoting Hasina in the meeting at AL's Dhanmondi office.

Earlier, it was decided that only those who passed SSC in 1995 or later and is under 27 years of age could contest for the post in the organisation's central position. But Sheikh Hasina relaxed the age limit by two years considering the student body's council not being held on time.

In the greater interest of BCL, Sheikh Hasina took the decision to conduct student politics with the students, Quader added.

The council is going to be held two years behind schedule as the existing committee expired on April 3, 2004.

Aspirants have already submitted their CVs to the council preparations committee mentioning their years of passing the SSC exams.

The AL chief's decision, however, created mixed reaction among the BCL activists.

While the 'elderly leaders' of the organisation are frustrated with the decision, it has been appreciated by the young regular students.

Many aspirants, who had been campaigning for the secretariat posts in the central or Dhaka University units, are now approaching the AL leaders to grab the top posts of president and general secretary in the central committee.

Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day national council and reunion at 10:00am on Dhanmondi Club Ground in the city.

The national council will be held at Engineers Institute auditorium at 9:00am tomorrow, where councillors will cast their votes to elect leaders for the next committee.

Incumbent BCL President Liaqat Sikder will preside over the reunion.