Hasina laughs, regrets not being a Chhatra League leader

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has regretted her inability to get central committee membership of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) during her student days.

Inaugurating the 28th annual convention of the ruling Awami League’s student front at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday, Hasina underlined BCL’s role in her political career.

“We have come to this stage of leadership after working for Chhatra League,” said Hasina, who had once been a BCL-backed vice president (VP) in the Badrunessa College union.

“I was a Chhatra League activist, but I never got the scope to be a leader,” she said, smiling.

“I was never given any post in the Chhatra League central committee. This is one of my regrets.”

Hasina, the longest-serving head of the government, had expressed similar regrets at several BCL programmes in the past.

In her 41-minute speech, Hasina stressed how her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman raised her to be politically conscious.

“Since my schooldays I was on the streets in every movement during the country’s extremely hard times.”

She recalled her participation in various political programmes during her studentship at Azimpur Girls’ School.

“I used to join processions by leaping over the school’s gate or wall,” she said, adding that she continued doing so in college.

She recalled: “I was elected VP of Eden Intermediate Girl’s College (Students’ Union), which is now Badrunnesa College. And I was a petty member of the Dhaka University committee.”

Hasina shared her activity to reorganise Bangladesh Chhatra League after her return to the country during a tough phase after 1975.

On Aug 15, 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were assassinated.

Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana survived because they were not in Bangladesh.

Hasina was made Awami League chief in 1981 and could return to the country as late as May 17 that year.

“I faced adversities in bringing back the rules in this organisation (BCL) after returning to the country,” she told the leaders and activists of today’s BCL.

Earlier on Saturday, Hasina inaugurated the council by releasing a pigeon and balloons.

A number of former and present leaders of the country’s oldest student organisation – BCL was born on Jan 4, 1948 – addressed the meet before her.