BCL (Bangladesh Chatra Leage) leaders resign for attacks on quota protesters

Nearly 50 leaders of Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL) at Dhaka University and various districts have resigned from their respective positions, condemning the student organisation’s action on quota reform protesters; its president smells a rat.

The leaders announced their resignation on their respective social media accounts at different times after the BCL men’s attack on the protesters on the Dhaka University campus and over 50 activists of the ruling Awami League’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, have stepped down from their posts following attacks on quota protests that started on Monday. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 15 leaders and activists from the Dhaka University unit of BCL, seven from the Cumilla University unit, and 30 from the Jahangirnagar University unit announced their resignations through social media posts, reports New Age correspondents.

Afia Fahmida Shuchi, who was organising secretary of the Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall unit of DU BCL, posted on Monday night that she had resigned from her post consciously.

‘I do not associate myself with this position or organization. Instead, I feel ashamed of myself.’

Screenshot image from the community Facebook group

Another BCL vice president of DU’s Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Hasibul Hasan Hasib, posted, ‘I am withdrawing all my associations with the BCL. Many of my younger brothers and friends were beaten up. I feel disgusted to have worked with the BCL.’ 

Rahimul Nahid, a member of the BCL Sheikh Russell Hall unit at JU, posted on Facebook early Tuesday, ‘I am resigning from my post … for the freedom of expression, conscience, and humanity.’

Several resigning BCL leaders and activists alleged being threatened for participating in the quota reform protests that began on July 1.

Screenshot image from the community Facebook group

Wasik Ikrar, vice-president of BCL Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall of DU, posted, ‘…I have been receiving threats for the past three days for taking part in the quota movement…so bidding farewell to this filthy organisation… I am prepared to die on the street for logical reasons.’ 

Mohammad Sadi, Shahid Dhirendranth Dutta hall unit BCL organizing secretary of Cumilla University told New Age, he, along with six others, resigned from their respective posts.

BCL central unit president Saddam Hossain told reporters on Tuesday that they were scrutinising the matter. 

BCL leaders and activists started resigning following the prime minister’s remarks on July 14 at the press conference on the outcome of her visit to China about the ongoing movement for quota reforms in the recruitment of public services.

Screenshot image from the community Facebook group

Referring to the quota for the grandchildren of freedom fighters, the PM has asked whether the grandchildren of Razakar—the term that is used to mean the people who collaborated with the killer Pakistani junta during the War of Independence in 1971—would get public service jobs instead.

Also, nearly a hundred activists at different universities declared to cut their connections with the ruling party’s student front and vowed to stand by the quota reform protesters.

BCL president Saddam Hossain claimed that there are efforts to spread confusion over the resignations and that they were verifying the incidents. He, however, refused to elaborate his statement.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka University students have declared in different campus and department-based social media groups that they would collectively boycott the attacking BCL men.

Until 10:00 pm Tuesday, at least 35 leaders of BCL at Dhaka University resigned from their posts.

Screenshot image from the community Facebook group discassion

Some of the resigning BCL leaders are – Ali Imam Jewel, organising secretary of leather engineering institute unit; Rupak Kumar Nayak, literature affairs secretary of the unit; Jeba Sayema, assistant secretary of social science unit, Gazi Md Abdul Mannan and Hasibul Hasan, vice presidents of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall unit; Tamanna Rahman, vice-president of Rokeya Hall unit; Israt Jahan Sumana, assistant secretary of Shamsun Nahar Hall unit, and Abullah Al Mubin, member of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall unit. 

Apart from them, four leaders of Cumilla University unit, and four others of Kushtia Medical College unit have stepped down from their respective positions in the organisation.

Besides, two BCL leaders in Lalmonirhat, one each from Gosairhat in Shariatpur, Dewanganj in Jamalpur and Bauphal in Patuakhali announced to resign from their posts.

While talking to Prothom Alo, Nusrat Jahan Surovi, organising secretary of a hall unit BCL at Cumilla University, said, “I am also human, just like you. You too are aware of the developments that are taking place in the country. Considering these, I have resigned from my position in the BCL.”