BCL yet to form full central committee

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) is yet to announce a full-fledged central committee, even though nine months have passed since the pro-Awami League student organisation held its last council.

As a result, BCL is going to contest the March 11 Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) polls, without a full committee, said its top leaders.

BCL held its last national council on May 11-12 last year, without electing new leadership. The DU council was held on April 29, and councils of Dhaka south and north units took place on April 25-26 last year.

On July 31, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina nominated Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon as president and Golam Rabbani as general secretary.

The same day, the PM declared a two-member committee of DU and Dhaka north and south units. Later, BCL central president and general secretary promised to announce a full-fledged committee by December 2018.

As per Article 11 (Kha and Ga) of BCL constitution, the tenure of the central executive body is two years, and council should be held within this period, otherwise the executive body will become defunct.

However, the committee may extend for three months in case of any special or emergency circumstances, which must be approved through extended meetings.

The tenure of district units is one year, according to the constitution. As such, the current two-member central committee has already passed a quarter of its tenure.

There has always been a tradition of forming a full-fledged central committee first, followed by committees of other units. But the absence of a full executive body is hampering BCL activities to a large extent.

Besides, some leaders of other units could get promotion if the central committee was announced, said unit leaders and activists.

Some young activists, eager to attain leadership positions, have expressed their dissatisfaction, as they are yet to receive a guideline about the upcoming Ducsu polls.

BCL last announced a 301-member central committee on February 22, 2016, after the organisation had elected Saifur Rahman Sohag and SM Jakir Hossain as president and general secretary respectively.

DU BCL last announced a 201-member committee on May 20, 2016, after a two-member committee with Abid Al Hasan and Motahar Hossain Prince as president and general secretary, respectively, was announced on June 18, 2015.

Seeking anonymity, a former DU unit joint secretary of BCL told The Daily Star, “BCL has set maximum age limit of leaders to 29 years. Due to this reason, most of us have to stop political activities in university level, if central body does not form a full-fledged committee soon.”

He also said a complete executive body is needed to maintain organisational structure in nominating Ducsu candidacy, otherwise many dedicated leaders might be deprived.

According to BCL constitution, the organisation should form a 251-member central committee, which includes 41 vice-presidents, 10 joint general secretaries and 10 organising secretaries.

DU unit BCL president Sonjit Chandra Das said, “We are taking CVs from unit activists but we cannot announce a full committee before the completion of central body.”

BCL president Rezwanul Huq Chowdhury Shovon said many procedures have to be followed before announcing a committee, and their organisation is now busy with the upcoming Ducsu polls.