Allies talk of united front, Chhatra Dal denies

The student fronts of the BNP-Jamaat-led 20-party alliance are going to form a platform named “Sarbo Daliya Chhatra Oikya” (all-party student unity), said leaders of the ally organisations though Chhatra Dal refused to confirm it. Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir is reportedly in a hurry to get the platform floated soon, which it wants to lead as well. Leaders of the student wings of the 20 parties revealed the matter while talking to the Dhaka Tribune. According to them, most of the student organisations have reached a consensus to form the platform. The platform, as they said, has been planned to help contribute to the anti-government movement and ensure student rights. Interestingly, Chhatra Shibir recently contacted many of the student fronts over the issue, keeping Chhatra Dal in the dark. In May, Shibir issued a press statement in collaboration with 14 student fronts excluding Chhatra Dal in this regard. In a meeting of the 20-party combine last year, its chief and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had asked the leaders of the parties to constitute an all-party student organisation. The proposed platform is an outcome of that meeting, sources said, adding that the leadership issue is delaying the formal launching of the orgsanisation. Chhatra Dal President Rajib Ahsan said they are not interested to discuss the issue right now as they are busy doing own organisational activities. When contacted, Chhatra Dal’s General Secretary Akramul Hasan too expressed less interest in the platform currently. “If the members of such a platform want to work jointly, they all have to understand each other. But, now we are keen to work individually in any movement,” he said. He feared that the government will intensify suppression and harassment on the student organistions if such a platform is formed for an anti-government movement. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Majlish President Mohammad Azizul Haque said they have decided to form the platform, which would play the same role another such uniform student organisation had played against the then Awami League government in 2000. He also said the formation of the platform will be announced formally after Eid-ul-Fitr. Jatiya Chhatra Samaj Convener Gazi Fayez claimed that the student organisation will work to help fulfil student rights. He hoped the platform will come as effective as the like-minded ones had been in the past, especially during any national crisis. “The country is going through a crisis and it is high time we got united. This is why we are going to form a students’ alliance,” he said. Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) Chhatra League President Saiful Alam said Shafiul Alam Prodhan, the late president of Jagpa, had earlier repeatedly told about student alliance. Sources said those who have agreed to form the alliance are – Chhatra Shibir President Muhammad Yasin Arafrat, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Majlish President Mohammad Azizul Haque, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Samaj President Ilias Athari, Jatiya Chhatra Samaj President Mamunul Hasib Bhuiyan, Jagpa Chhatra League President Saiful Alam, Muslim Chhatra League President SH Khan Asad, Chhatra Kallyan Party President Muhammad Omar Faruq, Chhatra Mission President Kamrul Hassan Suruj, Bangladesh Jatiya Chhatra Dal President Showan Sadeki, Chhatra Jamayet Bangladesh President Nasir Uddin, Islami Chhatra Andolan President Abu Syed Faruq, Jatiya Chhatra Forum President Abdullah Al Masud, Jatiya Chhatra Party President Sohel Rana and Democratic Chhatra Sangsad President Abul Hasem Masud.