Leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of ruling Awami League, who didn't get position or expected post in the recently announced central committee, has begun a hunger strike unto death.
They begun the strike at the base of Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial sculpture in Dhaka University on Friday, demanding the dismissal of controversial figures from the student wing, and reconstruction of the central committee.
"We have begun the strike as none from central committee contacted us after our one-day ultimatum was over," said post deprived Chhatra League leader Saif Babu, adding, they would continue the strike until their demands are met.
Earlier, the post deprived Chhatra League leaders held demonstration at the base of Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial sculpture for 33 consecutive days.
The deprived leaders alleged that the new committee had many leaders with criminal records along with non-students, drug abusers, drug dealers, married people, and disputed individuals.
Earlier on May 15, Chhatra League revealed a list of 16 ‘controversial leaders’, who were awarded different posts in the committee.
On May 28, the Awami League’s student wing announced that they would vacate 19 controversial posts primarily, in the face of protests.
Following the announcement, on June 18, Bangladesh Chhatra League decided to permanently remove 11 newly selected controversial figures from their posts in the new central committee. However, they are yet to reveal the names.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the Chhatra League leaders to drop the controversial leaders from the central committee.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina approved the central committee on May 13, about eleven months after Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and Golam Rabbani were made president and general secretary, respectively, in the 29th council session of the organization.
Following the announcement of its 301-member full-fledged central committee, at least two factional clashes took place between two Chhatra League groups, leaving at least 15 injured.
