Bangladesh News

Aggrieved leaders and workers of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) yesterday continued to stage demonstrations demanding cancellation of the new central committee that includes several “non-students” and “a relative of a suspected militant”.

Many JCD leaders and activists have threatened to resign en masse unless the new committee is dissolved within a week.

Meanwhile, newly appointed leaders of JCD placed floral wreaths at the grave of BNP’s founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, BNP student affairs secretary and former lawmaker Fazlul Haque Milon and some former JCD presidents and general secretaries were present there.

When asked about the protests from JCD men across the country against the new committee, Khandaker Delwar Hossain said sacrifices made by party leaders and activists during “bad time” would be evaluated.

“There might be grievances over the new committee. The chairperson has approved the committee after holding discussions with party leaders,” he said.

“Now all have to work together for the interest of the party,” Delwar added.

Sultan Salauddin Tuku, newly appointed president of JCD, accompanied Delwar while general secretary Amirul Islam Alim went to Zia’s grave with BNP Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed.

Meantime, JCD activists staged protest demonstrations at different educational institutions in Dhaka and Chittagong.

JCD leaders and supporters from various thana and college units in Dhaka gathered in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan and held a meeting there.

They alleged that the new committee has been formed keeping controversial leaders to weaken the organisation.

“A committee comprised of ‘patrons of Jamaat-e-Islami and militants’ is not acceptable to the activists,” they said.

They also slammed BNP leader and former state minister Aman Ullah Aman and Khaleda’s aide Shimul Biswas.

A group of leaders and activists of Dhaka University JCD unit brought out a procession on the university campus protesting the new committee.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday night approved the new central committee and later disclosed the names of five office bearers of JCD in a party press release, creating huge resentment among many JCD leaders and activists.

The BNP high-ups surprisingly appointed Sultan Salauddin Tuku JCD president who contested the December 29 national elections.

Tuku’s brother Abdus Salam Pintu is one of the main accused in the August 21 grenade attack case while his other brother Moulana Tajuddin, a suspected militant, remains on the run.