Juba League is the best political organisation for youths: Ashraf

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has claimed that Juba League is the 'best political organisation' for Bangladeshi youths.

He stated this while addressing a programme organised to mark the 42nd founding anniversary of the ruling party’s youth wing in Chittagong City on Saturday.

Recalling how Juba League came into being 42 years ago, Ashraf said the youths wanted to leave Chhatra League, the party's student wing, and join the next stage of politics after Bangladesh became independent.

"But we didn't have any youth organisation. Then Juba League founder Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni proposed forming of Juba League. I was Chhatra League's assistant organising secretary at that time."

There were internal differences over the proposal to form Juba League, he said. "Questions were raised about Chhatra League's future position. But we discussed it and subsequently Juba League was founded."

"Over the years, Juba League has become the best organisation for Bangladesh's youths."

However, LGRD Minister Ashraf's claim contradicts the Juba League's controversial activities over the past years.

Juba League leaders and activists have been accused of causing internal strife, influencing tender bids, among others across the country.

In September last year, a child was killed during clashes and gunfight between two factions of Juba League in Chittagong over a tender bid.

Media bashing

Juba League Chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury on Saturday came down hard on the mass media for allegedly running only negative reports on his organisation.

He alleged that Chhatra League and Juba League were implicated every time a bad event takes place. "Why Chhatra League and Juba League are blamed all the time?"

He said several newspapers only report the negative incidents, but ignore the positive ones.

"But I think criticism is just another way of praising. But you will find them (media) only reporting the negativities, not the achievements. Negative incidents are news to them, not the positive ones."

He claimed some newspapers report only part of someone’s quote and sometimes they even rearrange the sentences.

"Today's programme is a success. But they (mass media) will only report about the slight pushing and shoving that have taken place."

Omar Faruk Chowdhury, however, not even once mentioned the names of these 'several newspapers' he was talking about.