Aggrieved JCD leaders call off movement

The aggrieved leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's (JCD's) dissolved committee finally withdrew their movement on Wednesday accepting the organisational decision to form a new committee with a specific age limit, reports UNB.

They came up with the announcement at a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan central office offering an apology for various 'unpleasant' incidents, including locking BNP central office, during their demonstrations.

On behalf of the demonstrating JCD leaders, the BNP student body's Dhaka north city unit expelled president, Jahiruddin Tuhin, read out a written statement at the press meet.

"We've got hurt and shocked over some unpleasant incidents took place in BNP's central office and adjoining areas centring Chhatra Dal's overhauling process. The party's image has got dented with such incidents. We apologise for what happened recently," the statement reads.

In the statement, the JCD leaders further said, "At the same time, we pledge to follow the instructions of (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman remaining loyal to the party's decision."

They also claimed that they were not involved with any untoward incident and they think any vested quarter carried out those taking advantage of the chaotic situation.

JCD's last committee was formed on 14 October, 2014 with Rajib Ahsan as its president and Akramul Hasan as general secretary, and it was dissolved on 3 June last.

A BNP press release, signed by Rizvi on 3 June, said candidates planning to vie for various posts will have to be primary members, students of any educational institution in Bangladesh, and must have passed SSC and equivalent examinations either in 2000 or later on, prompting a group of leaders staging demonstration since 10 June seeking the withdrawal of the age limit.

On 11 June, the angry JCD leaders locked the BNP office and stage demonstrations at different time later.

Amid the row over the formation of its new committee maintaining a specific age limit, BNP on 23 June announced that the council of JCD will be held on 15 July.

A day before, the party expelled a dozen demonstrating leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal hours after they announced to continue their movement until their demand for the removal of age limit is met.

Later, BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and joint general secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal held a meeting with the aggrieved JCD leaders.

Tarique also joined meeting through Skype and convinced the angry JCD men to withdraw their demonstration.