Chittagong BCL leaders 'struggle to please MPs, big brothers'

Leaders of district committees of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Chittagong Division have alleged that they have failed to finalise the fully fledged committees of their branches because they cannot fulfil demands of 'big brothers' and local MPs.

They also blame disputes between Awami League MPs and local leaders of the ruling party for the failure to deliver the committees.

The leaders of the ruling party's student affiliate brought the allegations during their Chittagong divisional meeting on Monday in the presence of BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain.

The statements came from its disgruntled grassroots leaders following Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader's call to the party leaders to stop intervention in BCL activities. Around 1,500 leaders from 12 units took part in the meeting.

When GS Jakir asked them to speak about the current committees of ward, union and college units, those from Comilla North,  Khagrhachharhi, and Rangamati defended themselves for not announcing full committees.

President Sohag asked how much time the Comilla North committees needed to get the new committee.

The unit's President Abu Kawsar Anik cited disputes between local Awami League leaders and MPs as the reason behind the delay in forming the committees. He said the committees would be announced 'soon'.

When Sohag asked for a specific date, Anik passed the microphone to the unit's General Secretary Farhad Ahmed Fakir.

"We have to satisfy the MPs because they are at the centre of politics in our areas," he said.

"Besides the MPs, we also have to listen to and accommodate demands of other 'big brothers'. It will take three to four more months to form the committees after taking care of all these issues," he added.

The leaders from Rangamati blamed the disagreement between the president and secretary of the district unit, and local Awami League leaders for the delay in launching the fully fledged committees.

Sohag asked for forming the committees there within a month.

Those from Khagrachharhi cited same reasons as those mentioned by the Rangmati unit leaders for the delay.

Chittagong South BCL leaders did not attend the meeting held at a convention centre at SA Khaled Road in the port city because the central committee postponed their committee after the death of Lohagarha Upazila unit activist Tarikul Islam in 2014.

Tarikul died after falling from a train in Gazipur while returning from a meeting in Dhaka. His death followed a clash between rival factions of the unit.