15 injured in factional clash as BCL gets committee

At least 15 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League were injured in a factional clash following announcement of its 301-member full-fledged central committee on Monday.
Prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, also the organisational leader of Chhatra League, approved the central committee Monday afternoon about eleven months after Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and Golam Rabbani were made president and general secretary respectively in the 29th council session of the student organisation. 
A release, signed by Rezwanul Haque and Golam Rabbani, was circulated in the late afternoon confirming the new committee, which included 61 vice-presidents, 11 joint secretaries, 11 organising secretaries and other secretaries, deputy secretaries and assistant secretaries.
Many Chhatra League leaders, who failed to get desired position in the new committee, expressed grievances over the new body and claimed that the new committee had many leaders with criminal records.
More than 50 leaders and activists brought out a procession and arrived at Madhur Canteen at Dhaka University to hold a press conference rejecting the committee.
Witness said that followers of Chhatra League president Rezwanul Haque Shovon and general secretary Golam Rabbani attacked the press conference several minutes after it was started.
Former publicity secretary Saif Babu, said that former finance subcommittee secretary Tilottama Shikder, also Dhaka University Central Students’ Union member, DUCSU sports affairs secretary Tanvir Bhuyian Shakil, common room and cafeteria secretary and Roquiah hall unit president BM Lipi Akhter and general secretary Sraboni Disha, among others, were injured in the clash.
They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Saif added.
Chhatra League general secretary Golam Rabbani said that although the Chhatra League constitution provided for formation of a 251-member central committee, the decision of extension of the committee was made by the high-ups of the Awami League. 
Saif Babu told the press conference said that the committee was controversial as many people having criminal records and affiliations with rival organisations like Chhatra Shibir were placed on the committee depriving dedicated leaders and activists.
Dhaka University vice-chancellor Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman’s son Ashik Khan was made assistant secretary in the committee drawing criticism from a section of Chhatra League leaders.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net