Chhatra Dal, the student wing associated with the ruling BNP, is encountering growing dissatisfaction from its base following the unveiling of committees for 45 units. “Disadvantaged” leaders and activists have initiated protests in at least five districts, accusing the central leadership of overlooking established organizers.
This backlash poses a new organizational hurdle for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s affiliated groups as they aim to enhance their field-level operations, internal sources revealed.
The announcement on Saturday night encompassed 45 committees for university, medical college, district, and metropolitan units, comprising 22 new partial committees and 23 full committees.
In the aftermath of the announcement, grassroots leaders and activists took to the streets, urging for a reconfiguration of the committees.
The protests have now extended to Rangamati, Noakhali, Kishoreganj, Dinajpur, and Nayapaltan in the capital, with demonstrators alleging the exclusion of active, long-serving organizers in favor of inactive, married, elderly, and non-student individuals.
Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir commented, “When we allocate positions to only a few individuals and assign the rest to different roles, many often feel disheartened and aggrieved. Currently, we view these issues as relatively common. We anticipate that they will accept the organization’s decisions. By demonstrating patience and adhering to the organization’s regulations, a pathway for them to emerge as future leaders will be forged.”
He emphasized that the committees were devised after comprehensive considerations and dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
Insiders within Chhatra Dal highlighted that the grassroots discontent has emerged as a significant trial for the central leadership, particularly as the organization endeavors to revitalize educational institutions and district units subsequent to years of feeble organizational presence.
In Rangamati, a clash erupted recently during a program organized by the newly formed partial committee of the district unit, leading to confrontations between protesting leaders and newly appointed officials, resulting in at least one injury. Subsequently, Section 144 was imposed by local authorities to avert further violence.
Sources indicated that the deployment of army and police personnel in certain areas of the town followed two days of protests and counter-protests, raising concerns of potential further clashes.
Similar unrest unfolded in Noakhali, Nasir’s hometown, where dissenting leaders labeled him as “undesirable” following the announcement of the district committee. After the unveiling of a 37-member district committee, hundreds of leaders and activists in Maijdee Town set fires and obstructed roads, with several crude bomb incidents heightening tensions in the locality.
Throughout the prolonged protest, commuters and students encountered significant disruptions.
Protesters contended that the committee formation lacked a thorough evaluation of the contributions of active leaders during challenging political junctures. They also alleged that certain leaders with feeble organizational track records secured positions through lobbying and personal affiliations.
In Kishoreganj, a group of leaders organized a procession, asserting that supporters of the district party leader and a state minister were favored during the formation of the district committee.
Protests also emerged in Cox’s Bazar, Dinajpur, and outside the BNP central office in Nayapaltan, with dissenting leaders gathering to demand a reassessment of the committees before discontent spreads further among grassroots activists.
Meanwhile, at least five district-level Chhatra Dal leaders disclosed their resignations on social media platforms, citing dissatisfaction with the committee formation process. Several expressed discontent with committees where individuals who were “absent from the field” were rewarded while loyal activists were neglected.
Central Chhatra Dal leaders rebuffed the protests as unacceptable, contravening BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s directive to uphold discipline.
A central leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that some protesters failed to secure anticipated positions and were now attempting to exert pressure on the organization.
He stated, “The party leadership has consistently urged all leaders and activists to uphold discipline. Those engaging in street protests against organizational decisions are in defiance of that directive.” He added that the central leadership would address specific grievances but emphasized that indiscipline, road blockades, and violence would not be tolerated.
