Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has directed the councillors of Bangladesh Chhatra League to elect brilliant and regular students for the top posts of the party’s student body.
Its leadership would be elected through direct votes by the councillors and that the age ceiling should be 29, Hasina said addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Chhatra League’s 28th council at Suhrawardy Udyan of the capital yesterday.
She said the new leaders should be regular students as well as brilliant and hard-working. They would have to work for the nation and the party keeping aside own interests.
However, there is a speculation that the ruling Awami League chief, also the prime minister, may extend the age ceiling to 30.
“Student politics should be idealistic and inspired by the goals and achievements of the Liberation War,” she said.
Recalling the contribution of Chhatra League in the country’s historic movements, Hasina asked the Chhatra League activists to keep it in mind so that its image is not dented in any way.
The outgoing committee was formed on July 11, 2011 with HM Badiuzzaman Shohag elected as its president and Siddique Nazmul Alam as the general secretary, for two years as per the organisation’s constitution. The previous council was held on April 4, 2006.
Hasina left the post of Chhatra League’s organisational head until April 4, 2009 in the wake of violence on campuses countrywide. On the other hand, the Awami League cannot have any associated or affiliated bodies consisting of students or teachers, as per the Election Commission rules.
Since the party came to power in 2009, its leaders and activists have faced allegations of murder, rape and sexual harassment, intra-party clashes, extortion, mugging, tender violence, drugs trading, and influencing recruitment and admission processes.
A number of units of Chhatra League had been suspended or dissolved during the last seven years while many of its leaders and activists punished for their involvement in activities that go against the party charter.
Hasina yesterday said activists and leaders of the Awami League’s organisations also played their role in protecting the lives and property of the common people.
Many leaders and activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League were killed during the anti-government movement and “countrywide anarchy” carried out by the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance, she said.
About the 27-year age limit for the Chhatra League leaders, Hasina said as the council could not be held in due time, the age limit should be 29 years. “But you must stick to it – 29 years,” UNB quoted the premier as saying.
Hasina attended the event as the chief guest when senior party leaders Tofail Ahmed and Obaidul Quader were present as special guests. Outgoing Chhatra League President Shohag presided over the programme.
Several thousand leaders and activists across the country joined the two-day long event that began around 11am.
Chhatra League General Secretary Nazmul read out the organisation’s report while Office Secretary Sheikh Rassel placed the condolence proposal.
Earlier in the morning, the prime minister hoisted the national flag with the national anthem being played, while the Chhatra League president hoisted the organisation flag. Hasina inaugurated the council by releasing pigeons and balloons.
