Political parties control student bodies illegaly

Most parties including the ruling Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party practically control their student wings in various ways in violation of law.

Maintaining student organisation as an affiliated body by a political party is prohibited as per the Representation of the People Order 1972.

The Awami League-backed Bangladesh Chhatra League operated by direct instructions by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina as the Chhatra League announced her as political guardian while recently the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal announced Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman as their guardian.

Good governance campaigners, including political scientist, electoral law expert and former caretaker government advisor said that that controlling student bodies by political parties was a clear violation of The Representation of the People Order, 1972 and the Election Commission should take action in case of such violations.

The Awami League and the Nationalist Party, however, said that they did not violate the law as the guardians only gave advice to the associate bodies only on ideological ground while the Election Commission said it could not take any action as proving the allegation would not be easy.

The political parties were registered with the commission following various specific provisions.

The Representation of the People Order prohibits formation of any organisation or body as its affiliated or associated body consisting of teachers or students of any educational institution or the employees or labourers of any financial, commercial or industrial institution or establishment or members of any other profession.

 

The experts said that recent reshuffling in the Chhatra League committee with instructions from Sheikh Hasina and formation of the Chhatra Dal committee coordinated by the Nationalist Party leaders as well as Traique Rahman, were a clear violation of the Representation of the People Order.

Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafar Ullah told New Age that the Awami League was just giving instructions to Chhatra League considering the ‘ideological ground’.

He said that nothing happened in violation of the Representation of the People Order and there were long-standing precedents in politics of such practice.

Nationalist Party standing committee member Selima Rahman said that her party only giving advices to the Chhatra Dal as it carried the ideology of the Nationalist Party.

She also echoed Zafar Ullah in claiming that such activities did not hamper the conditions of registration of a political party.

Election commissioner M Rafiqul Islam told New Age that though the parties do such activities, to lawfully establish it through evidence would be tough.

He said that in most cases party leaders were giving advices to student organisations which was not a violation of law.

Former caretaker government advisor M Hafizuddin Khan said that the student bodies backed by political parties were being used as muscles power to exert influence across the educational institutions.

He said that one could not see any hope in the Election Commission as it itself was working to serve the ruling cartel.

Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said that the commission should take action on it as it is the lone authority to ensure good governance by disciplining the political parties.

He said that such practices were harmful for both national politics and student politics.

Political scientist Tofail Ahmed said that the commission should serve show cause notice to the parties asking for explanations as to why they were engaged in running their student wings.

The experts said that the student leaders were being involved in looting and money-making instead of fighting for realising student rights.

They said that the people would lose faith from student politics if it did not function independently.

On September 14, Chhatra League president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury and general secretary Golam Rabbani were fired from the Chhatra League leadership following instructions of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

Rezwanul and Rabbani were terminated from their posts one year before the end of their tenure as they faced corruption allegation.

In July 2018, Hasina selected Chhatra League’s new central leadership for two years after she had been announced as the organisational guardian since its council session.

The announcement of the new Chhatra League executive committee came nearly two months after its national council session was held in May.

Besides, on September 19, the Chhatra Dal elected Fazlur Rahman Khokon and Iqbal Hossain Shyamol as its president and general secretary at a council session at the residence of the Nationalist Party standing committee member Mirza Abbas in Dhaka’s Shahajahanpur.

The previous committee of the Chhatra Dal was announced by the Nationalist Party press release.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net