BCL faction calls strike at BM College, rivals reject
A faction of Chhatra League, student front of ruling Awami League, yesterday called an indefinite strike at Barisal Govt. Brojo Mohon College from May 24 demanding immediate announcement of student union election schedule.
However, the rival faction of BCL and other student organisations opposed the strike demanding a free and fair BCSU election under a peaceful environment.
BCL activists led by Moin Tushar, Shubha Sen, Nahid Serniabad, college BCL joint conveners, backed by city AL president and Barisal mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron at a rally on the campus yesterday alleged that B M College authorities were ignoring their logical demand for election which became due in 2003.
The college authorities are annually collecting Tk. 30 including Tk.17 as student union fees and Tk.13 as student welfare fees from 20,000 students regularly, they said.
But students' welfare activities remained stalled in absence of BCSU, the BCL factional leaders claimed.
On the other hand, the rival factions led by Rafik Serniabad, Syeda Momtaz Begum Moly, college BCL joint conveners, backed by former Chief Whip and district AL secretary Abul Hasanat Abdullah, said they also want BCSU election, but in a free and fair and peaceful atmosphere with approval from the higher political authorities.
"We oppose the strike for BCSU election as it will affect normal campus life of the general students," said a rival BCL faction leader.
Mashiur Rahman Manju, JCD president, Siddhartha Mandal, JSD president, Zahid Abdullah Rahat, Chhatra Union president, Shamim Shahrukh Khan, Chhatra Moitri president of B M College units, also demanded free-fair BCSU election in a peaceful condition. They opposed the strike called by a faction of BCL 'with ill intention of grabbing BCSU'.
College principal Nani Gopal Das said announcement of the schedule for BCSU election depends on the decision of the higher authorities of the government.
"We have asked the law enforcers to take necessary action against the troublemakers and ensure a peaceful educational atmosphere on campus,” he said.
Earlier on April 29 noon, two rival factions of BCL led by Rafik and Moin, clashed and later ransacked the principal's room over the election issue.
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