The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) will hold a press conference on Thursday amid much speculation about the date of its long-awaited 29th central council.
The council is needed to formally replace the current 28th committee led by Central Chhatra League President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain, which expired on July 26 last year.
In a working committee meeting of Awami League held at Gana Bhaban on Saturday, Awami League president and the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, instructed the BCL leaders to organize the council before the month of Ramadan.
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The religious festival is expected to begin this year on or around May 15, giving the council organizers less than six weeks to prepare.
For the most recent BCL council held in July 2015, the then President HM Bodiuzzaman Sohag and General Secretary Siddiqui Nazmul Alam had announced the date at a press conference held two months earlier.
Ruling party central leaders said a probable date of May 11 has been agreed for the 29th council, pending confirmation from the student wing leaders.
This could be forthcoming at Thursday’s press conference, which will be held at 10am at the Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters of the ruling party’s student wing according to a BCL press release signed by the faction’s office secretary, Delower Hossain Shahjada.
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During a rally marking the Chhatra League’s 70th anniversary on January 6, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Sheikh Hasina had wanted the council to be held in March - the month of independence.
A few days later, at an emergency meeting, Sohag and Jakir instructed the central leaders to make preparations for holding the council on March 31-April 1.
On March 8, Obaidul Quader asked the Chhatra League leaders to take preparation for the council, saying it would he held “on time”.
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On the same day, however, Jakir told the media that the prime minister had asked the BCL leaders to hold the council on time, but not on March 31.
Awami League Joint Secretary and former Chhatra League General Secretary Abdur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the Chhatra League council was being delayed due to “unavoidable circumstances”.
On March 18, Sohag repeated to the Dhaka Tribune that the council would be held on time, without mentioning any specific date.