'100 percent successful'

Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saifur Rahman Sohag yesterday claimed that the organisation's incumbent central committee was "100 percent successful".

"After taking charges on July 25, 2015 we have been successful in managing Chhatra League till now," he told reporters at a press conference at BCL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

BCL General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain echoed him at the programme.

Activists and leaders of the pro-Awami League student body had often been involved in violent activities during the tenure of the committee.

Incidents of intra-party clash over establishing supremacy, assault on general students, attacks on journalists, and vandalism by BCL members had been common in different universities and colleges during the committee's term.

Such incidents resulted in at least 23 deaths in the last two and half years, according to media reports.

At least 360 BCL activists were suspended in 44 incidents that took place across the country during the period, according the BCL office.

"We might have made some errors in performing organisational responsibilities, but we were successful in doing our duties," Sohag said yesterday.

According to rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), seven people were killed and 374 were injured in 49 clashes involving Chhatra League last year.

At yesterday's press conference, BCL leaders announced the dates for holding the councils of different units.

The 29th council of BCL central unit will take place on May 11 and 12.

BCL will hold councils of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South and Dhaka University units on April 24, 26, and 29 respectively.

On January 6, ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader asked BCL leaders to hold the councils.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 9 instructed the BCL president and general secretary to hold the council on March 31, but it did not happen.

During a meeting of AL Central Working Committee on March 31, the premier set May 11 for the 29th central council of BCL.

The last council of the organisation was held on 26 July, 2015. The current committee's two-year tenure expired on July 25 last year.

As many as 28 BCL councils were held since the organisation's inception in 1948. Of those, only seven councils were held in the last 30 years.