Concern, anxiety again over BCL committee in Kalapara

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Patuakhali: Controversy over upazila, municipal and college unit committees of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Kalapara of Patuakhali is not going away. After lobbying, agitation, anxiety, anxiety to get the post of Chhatra League, there have been marches against the district leaders accused of trading posts. The Central Chhatra League suspended the controversial committees as information about the committee controversy spread through social media. Again on March 12, 2024, the district committee dissolved those committees suspended by the center in a press notification. In this, concern and anxiety about the formation of a new committee has arisen among the leaders and workers of the local Chhatra League. The statement of several local leaders and workers of BCL of clean image can only get relief from the installment of money demanded by the district if the Central BCL Committee gives the committee. However, the district did not agree to comment on this.

Earlier, a deposed leader of the Upazila Chhatra League attracted the attention of the district Chhatra League by posting on his personal Face book ID, where he wrote, ‘Please return the money. Otherwise, I will go to Ganabhaban to take the documents.’ Besides, the audio of the district president's instruction to collect money with the post aspirant was spread on Face book.

Meanwhile, in a press release signed by District Chhatra League President Md. Saiful Islam and General Secretary Md. Tanveer Hasan Arif on Monday night on July 10, 2023, Hasibul Hasan has been made President and Md. Tarikul Islam Babu Talukdar has been made Secretary of Chhatra League Kalapara Upazila unit Committee, Rakibul Hasan Rabbi as President and Rakibul Islam Rakib was made as secretary of Kalapara municipal unit committee and Jasim Uddin Jetu was made president and Mizanur Rahman Musa was made secretary of government Mozahar Uddin Biswas College unit committee.

According to a source of Chhatra League, a special extended meeting of Upazila Chhatra League was held on April 20, 2023 at the local Sheikh Kamal Smriti Complex auditorium to make the mission of district Chhatra League successful. At the end of the meeting, the BCL committee was dissolved and the aspirants were instructed to submit their bio data to the district. After that, the negotiation about the posts started. Jagbandhu's gifts including sweets, curd, koral fish, honey reached the homes of the district leaders. Later, the auction for the posts of president and secretary took place. Even though the aspirants paid huge sums of money, the name of the highest bidder was included in the district announced committee.

A leader of Upazila Chhatra League who did not want to reveal his name said, ‘I have no income. 15 lakh taka collected from the sale of father's land and I gave it to district President Saiful Bhai. They gave the committee with twice as much as me. I have not received the refund yet after informing the central authorities.’ Another source of the local Chhatra League said, ‘To get the committee, I spent 5 lakh taka as I went to Dhaka several times to rent a luxurious room in a two-storey launch with the district leaders. They are asking to dissolve that committee and contact again.’

District Chhatra League President Md. Saiful Islam told the media, ‘Such allegations are baseless. It will not be reasonable to say anything without proof.'

Tanveer Hasan Arif, Secretary of District Chhatra League, said, ‘Three committees of Kalapara have been declared dissolved on the instructions of the Centre. Steps may be taken to form a new committee after getting the Centre's further instructions and permission.' Arif did not agree to comment on the controversy over the BCL committee. - Gofran Biswas Palash