Post-deprived BCL leaders start sit-in on DU campus

A faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders, who were deprived of posts in the new central committee of the pro-Awami League student body, began an indefinite sit-in programme on Dhaka University campus early today protesting a “fresh assault” on them.

They claimed that BCL General Secretary Golam Rabbani and his followers attacked them inside the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) around 2:30am.

Fifteen minutes into the attack, the agitating BCL men started the hunger strike at the base of Raju sculpture. But in the morning, they said they would stage an indefinite sit-in instead of observing a hunger strike, our DU correspondent reports from the spot.

“We first started a hunger strike to protest the attack. Later, we decided to go on an indefinite sit-in programme considering the month of Ramadan,” said Tanvir Hasan Saikat, a former central committee leader of the BCL.

They would continue the demonstration until they get justice for the attack on them as well as the assurance from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to fulfil their demands over the “controversial” leaders in the newly formed BCL central committee, said Tanvir.

‘FRESH ATTACK’

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 the TSC last night with a delegation of the “deprived” leaders to solve the problem.

The meeting came following the instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the allegation that the “controversial” leaders being 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.

At one stage, Rabbani got furious, abused her verbally and slapped her, he alleged.

Some fellow activists of Rabbani also attacked other deprived leaders,” Rakib and Babu said.

Around 3:00am, Shovon and Rabbani tried to calm down the protesters amid rain but they told both the leaders to go away.

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.

GOLAM RABBANI DENIES ALLEGATION

Denying the allegations made by the agitating BCL leader, Golam Rabbani told the Daily Star that “No one was attacked. There was some exchange of hot words. They (deprived leaders) are doing these according to the instructions of a special syndicate.”

On May 13, at least 200 deprived leaders and activists staged demonstration on the Dhaka University campus, protesting the inclusion of controversial persons in the central committee. At that time, at least 20 BCL activists were hurt in an attack carried out by followers of many securing posts.

An attempt to hold a press conference at Madhur Canteen in the evening was foiled in the attack.