Saifur Rahman Shohag and Jakir Hossain are likely to become the president and secretary of Chhatra League when the ruling party’s student front sits for a long overdue council today.
According to sources, the council is slated for an 11am start and the members of the organisations are likely to elect these two as their top leaders.
It is also likely that the central committee, to be announced tomorrow, is likely to have 201 members in total but this could only be known after the top two are elected.
Sources also said that a number of secret meetings had been held throughout the day yesterday to finalise the entire committee, especially the top two. One of these meetings is said to have taken place at the residence BCL top two
of a former president of the Chhatra League. Senior leaders of the organisation and also the Awami League reportedly attended these meetings.
Insiders said Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is personally coordinating the council. Last year, Awami League presidium council member Obaidul Quader, now roads and bridges minister, coordinated the council.
Shohag, from Madaripur, was the environment secretary, and Jakir, from Moulvibazar, was an assistant secretary of the outgoing committee of the student group. They are both students of the Dhaka University.
Insiders also said that there is a lot of discontent within the organisation centring Jakir’s candidature and probable election as their secretary.
Many leaders and workers, who claim themselves to be dedicated to the organisation, have expressed their surprise and disappointment with the selection of Jakir, 24, a student of political science.
Seeking anonymity for obvious reasons, they said even those who have been active with the Chhatra League’s politics on DU campus have not heard of Jakir. He has been detached with politics and three months ago even tried to get a job at the Jagannath University.
Rumours also have it that his father is involved with the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami, the party that opposed the country’s liberation in 1971 and is one of Awami League’s major political opponents.
The insiders also said that Jakir has come this far because he is part of a very strong syndicate, controlled by some of the former leaders of the organisation.
According to sources in several state intelligence agencies, Jakir had not helped them with information when they were checking his background. It is customary for intelligence agencies to check the backgrounds of the candidates vying for Chhatra League central committee posts.
This year, a total of 142 candidates have been vying for the president and secretary posts. During the last council in 2011, seven candidates contested for president and 16 for the general secretary.
