16 BCL leaders expelled

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has suspended the organisational activities of its Eden Mohila College unit until further notice and expelled 16 leaders and activists over the factional clash on the campus.

The announcement was made through a press release signed by BCL President Al Nahian Khan Joy and General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee early Monday.

“It is being informed as per the decision of Bangladesh Chhatra League Central Executive Council that the organisational activities of Eden Mohila College unit have been suspended until further notice,” the press release said.

It said the action was taken against the BCL leaders and activists for violating the discipline of the organisation.

Those who were expelled include 10 vice-presidents of the current committee, one joint general secretary, one organising secretary and four workers.

They are vice-presidents Sonali Akhtar, Sushmita Baroi, Jebunnahar Shila, Kalpana Begum, Jannatul Ferdous, Afroza Rashmi, Marzana Urmi, Sanjida Parveen Chowdhury, SM Milli and Sadia Jahan Sathi, joint general secretary Fatema Khanam Binti, organising secretary Samia Akhter Baisakhi and activists Rafia Neela, Noshin Sharmili, Jannatul Lima and Shuchona Akhter.

The central BCL committee also formed a probe body to look into the infighting on the Eden Mohila College campus that left 10 people injured.

In a separate notice issued on the same day, it asked the committee to submit the report within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, hours after threatening to go on a fast unto death demanding withdrawal of the expulsion order, the 16 BCL leaders and activists retreated from their stance following a meeting with the senior Awami League leaders.

At a press conference on the campus on Monday, they said they would go on a hunger strike for an indefinite period if their suspension order was not withdrawn.

After the press conference, they went to the AL office in Dhanmondi to begin their fast-unto-death programme.

However, they backtracked on their stance following a meeting with the senior AL leaders who assured them of resolving the issue.

Jannatul Ferdous, who was a vice-president of the college unit, said, “We came here (AL office) to inform the seniors of the matter. They’ve taken the responsibility to resolve the issue.”

“We will no longer observe the hunger strike,” she said, adding that they have no programme either over the expulsion issue.

On September 22, Jannatul Ferdous in an interview with the media claimed that Eden Mohila College BCL President Tamanna Jasmin Riva and General Secretary Razia Sultana were involved in various illegal activities.

Later on Saturday night, the supporters of Riva and Razia along with college branch leaders Nuzhat Faria alias Roksana, Ayesha Islam alias Meem and Kamrun Nahar alias Jyoti threatened to throw her out of the college dormitory.

At that time, they harassed and beat Jannatul. She was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A tense situation was prevailing on the campus throughout the entire day on Sunday.

At a press conference at noon, a BCL faction declared the president and the general secretary personas non grata on the campus and demanded that they be expelled from the organisation.

The two groups later were locked into a clash in the evening, leaving at least 10 people, including Riva, injured.