Hasina angry over BCL row at CU

Angry at the internal squabbling at Chittagong University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked two leaders of her party to resolve it.

Hasina, who heads the ruling Awami League, talked to party’s Chittagong City committee President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin over the matter during a banquet at Chittagong Cantonment on Wednesday.

Nasir told bdnews24.com that Hasina expressed her annoyance at the ‘recent activities’ of Chittagong University Chhatra League.

He said the party chief asked them to take actions against those who vitiate the environment of the university.

“Prompt measures will be taken in consultation with Mohiuddin Chowdhury,” he added.

Tension roiled Chittagong University several times in the past three years due to internal conflict of BCL, the student front of the Awami League.

In the latest incident, the university shuttle train’s compartment-based two factions of enforced siege programmes there.

The Awami League leaders said both the factions were loyal to Chowdhury.

Nasir said: “The prime minister knows about the recent incidents. She expressed her annoyance and reacted angrily. At the banquet, she asked me and Mohiuddin Bhai to look into why these incidents are happening.”

He admitted that they could not avoid blames for the incidents though ‘this matter of the university’ was not an affair to be intervened by the Awami League.

“It’s not directly linked to us. But indirectly we’re responsible for it. That’s why we had taken initiative to (solve it). If needed, we’ll discuss the matter with (Chittagong) north and south district unit leaders,” he said.

Several leaders attending the banquet told bdnews24.com that Hasina spoke to Nasir first and then to Chowdhury over the university situation and asked the two leaders to work together to resolve the BCL row.

On Oct 29, Mohiduddin and Nasir urged all factions of Chittagong University BCL for unity but they did not listen to the call.