Internal feuds grip JCD, BCL

Sources said the BCL central as well as DU units are now divided into two major groups led by President Liaqat Sikder and General Secretary Nazrul Islam Babu respectively.

Chaos and confrontation are also rife at DU unit of the BCL resulting in at least ten major clashes on the campus in recent months.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

DU Unit President Delwar Hossain and General Secretary Hemayet Uddin Khan led two separate factions.

Conflicts at DU unit and different hall units, that play vital role in campus politics, have emerged in the wake of the expiry of the tenure of existing committees. The one-year tenure expired in July last.

Liaqat said there is no internal clashes within the ranks of the party except the contests for leadership.

But, sources within the party said the recent attack on Abdul Hadi, organising secretary of Salimullah Hall unit of BCL, took place following a series of earlier clashes among the two rival factions at DU unit.

Hadi, who belongs to Delwar Hossain faction, earlier beat Saiful severely inside the Madhus' canteen.

Being annoyed with the poor organisational activities of the BCL, AL President Sheikh Hasina earlier dissolved the central committee and formed a 41-member steering committee with Liaqat Sikder as convenor to make the party more dynamic.

Sources said most of the members of the central executive committee had virtually distanced themselves from organisational activities and became busy with their personal business or interest.

Meanwhile, supremacy on the campus and distribution of seats at residential halls are the main reasons behind the internal feud at the JCD. The infighting have been geared up due to division among the top JCD leaders.

The hall unit committees play vital role on the campus politics but many of the hall unit leaders are now involved in intra-party clashes on the campus and dormitories.

As a result, the JCD DU unit had to expel about 100 leaders and workers from different hall units since the formation of the committees last year. The one-year tenure of these committees has also expired.

JCD sources said Central Organising Secretary Safiul Bari Babu led 'Babu' faction, International Affairs Secretary Sayeed Iqbal Mahmud Tito led 'Titu' faction and DU unit President Amirul Islam Khan Alim led 'Alim' faction.

The infighting began last year after the formation of the committees where Tito-led faction got vital posts and virtually took over the control of campus politics.

There is no factional fighting inside the JCD but there is contest for leadership at the JCD's grassroots level, JCD General Secretary Azizul Bari Helal said, adding that clashes occur due to young blood, ego problems, personal liking and disliking and individual dominance at the hall units.

But, four leaders of the Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall unit of the JCD were beaten up due to internal clashes on March 17. JCD President Shahabuddin Laltu asked its eight leaders and activists to leave the hall.

An enquiry committee has been constituted by the provost of the hall in this connection.