Fakhrul pacifies JCD protesters

An agitating faction of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has called off its demonstration at the intervention of BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after daylong clashes and vandalism at Naya Paltan.

They have been demanding abolishment of the new committee announced on Oct 14.

A sculpture of BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman was damaged on Sunday the protesters clashed with those on the latest committee.

Fakhrul held talks with representatives of the agitators in the afternoon and assured them of taking the demands to party chief Khaleda Zia.

Gazi Raunakul Islam Riaz, new committee's joint general secretary who's been with the protesters since the beginning, said Fakhrul would inform them of the development on Monday.

He announced suspension of their ongoing agitation until then.

Last committee's Rakibul Islam Royel, Tariqul Islam Titu, Moshiur Rahman Mishu, Shamsuzzman Khokon, and Rafiqul Islam were at the meeting with Fakhrul.

Party's Joint Secretary General and former JCD chief Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, former JCD chief and currently Dhaka Metropolitan BNP unit's Member Secretary Habib-un Nabi Khan Sohel and Juba Dal President Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal accompanied Fakhrul.

Members of the new committee have pitched themselves on the fourth floor of the party headquarters.

On Saturday, the agitators had put the fourth floor under lock and key. Clashes broke out a day later when members of new committee tried to break in.

Fakhrul ordered members of the new committee to "keep quiet" and left with them in the evening.

The dissidents allege BNP's Student Affairs Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annee and Deputy Student Affairs Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku were behind the Oct 14 committee.

Their effigies were burnt on Saturday.

Demonstrations took place on Thursday after the new committee approval. Several homemade bombs were exploded at Naya Platan at that time.

Similar explosions took place in front of Khaleda's Gulshan office the following night when the new committee members went to meet her.

On Friday, the dissidents gathered at Naya Paltan where they held daylong agitation. Several BNP leaders faced with their ire when they went to the party headquarters.

Fakhrul had pacified the agitators on Saturday saying he would look into their demands.