The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a long-standing student body affiliated with the Awami League, has been officially banned by the interim government of Bangladesh, following a series of serious allegations involving violence, conspiracy, and public safety disruptions. This decision was made under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, as detailed in a notification signed by Senior Secretary Md Abdul Momen of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The notification emphasized that the BCL had been involved in activities that posed a significant threat to public safety, including murder, rape, torture, and harassment in student dormitories, as well as tender manipulation.

The government noted that despite the fall of the Awami League government, the BCL continued to engage in conspiratorial, destructive, and provocative activities against the State. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been leading the country under the Awami League banner, fled to India on August 5 following violent protests that had escalated since mid-July. These protests had already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, further destabilizing the country.

During the height of the Anti-Discrimination movement, BCL members, armed with weapons, attacked protesting students and civilians, resulting in hundreds of deaths and leaving countless others injured. This violent repression by the student body sparked outrage, with many calling for decisive action against the BCL and its influence. According to the notification, the government had sufficient evidence to confirm the BCL’s involvement in continued provocative activities, even after the fall of the government.

Following these revelations, the interim government swiftly moved to declare the ban, which took effect immediately. The Bangladesh Chhatra League had its roots at Dhaka University in 1948, a year before the Awami League was founded, and was historically regarded as a fraternal organisation of the political party. Over the past 15 years, while the Awami League was in power, the BCL was often seen as an extension of the party’s influence in educational institutions.

Rising Demand for President's Removal

The announcement of the BCL ban comes amidst growing public discontent and demands for the removal of President Shahabuddin. On Tuesday, protesters from the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement issued a five-point demand, which included the scrapping of the country's Constitution, the removal of President Shahabuddin, and the banning of the Chhatra League. The movement’s coordinators argued that the BCL had been responsible for much of the violence against students, particularly during the protests at Dhaka University, where the Raju Sculpture has become a symbolic focal point of resistance.

Nusrat Tabassum, a leading figure in the movement, celebrated the interim government's decision, stating that both Bangladesh and Dhaka University are now free from stigma. She thanked the government for taking swift action to restore peace and order to the country’s educational system, which had been plagued by years of violent control by BCL members.

The BCL, with its 76-year-long history, has seen both highs and lows as it has played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s student and political movements. However, the recent spate of allegations of violence, tender manipulation, and political intimidation has tarnished the image of the student body and raised concerns over the level of influence wielded by political organisations within the country’s academic institutions.

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