BCL president, secretary take heat for living luxurious lives

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain have been criticised by other senior central leaders for their luxurious life, nepotism and involvement in rigging tenders. In a day-long BCL executive committee meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office in Dhaka on Wednesday, one of the joint secretaries brought several allegations against the president and general secretary of ruling Awami League’s student wing. At the time, some other senior central leaders backed him with claps, however the president and general secretary and some juniors were enraged at this. Seeking anonymity, the central joint secretary alleged that Sohag and Zakir were involved in rigging the tender of the construction of Sheikh Russel Tower at Dhaka University. He also criticised Sohag and Zakir for their luxurious life saying: “You live in luxurious flats, use luxurious cars, where does the money come from?” Enraged at the question, BCL president said: “My father pays for it.” Later the infuriated general secretary forced the joint secretary to stop in the middle of his speech. Besides, the present committee will expire on July 25. But the central committee leaders are yet to announce the date for the new council. BCL president and general secretary also faced criticism for that. In response, the president and general secretary said they were ready to do whatever the leader [Awami League President Sheikh Hasina] said. “If she says, we will announce the date of the council at any time,” said Sohag. Another central leader said: “The leader will not come and announce the date for the council. She gave us the BCL constitution to manage the organisation. We have to move accordingly.” Meanwhile, some other leaders brought allegation of nepotism against Sohag and Zakir. They have both allegedly added members to the central committee from their home districts without taking into account merit and eligibility. “Eligible leaders will lose enthusiasm to continue working for BCL, if the BCL president and general secretary continue to act in this way,” the leaders told the meeting. From the meeting, BCL president asked government employees and married people to resign from BCL within 48 hours. Claiming the meeting ended peacefully, Saifur Rahman Sohag said: “Central leaders usually make sensitive speeches in the meeting. But overall, the meeting was successful. There was no discussion on any controversial topic.” The meeting was chaired by BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag and moderated by General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain.