Bangladesh Chhatra League

History

When British India was partitioned and the independent dominions of India and Pakistan were created in 1947, the region of Bengal was divided along religious lines. The predominantly Muslim eastern half was designated East Pakistan — and made part of the newly independent state of Pakistan — while the predominantly Hindu western part became the Indian state of West Bengal.

Pakistan's history was marked by political instability and economic difficulties. Dominion status was rejected in 1956 in favor of an "Islamic Republic within the Commonwealth." Attempts at civilian political rule failed and the government imposed martial law between 1958 and 1962 and again between 1969 and 1971.

Soon after partition, frictions developed between East and West Pakistan, which were separated by more than 1,000 miles of Indian territory. East Pakistanis felt exploited by West Pakistan. Linguistic, cultural and ethnic differences contributed to the estrangement of East from West Pakistan. Bengalis strongly resisted attempts to impose Urdu as the country's sole official language. Responding to these grievances, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 4, 1948 formed a students' organization called the Chhatra League.

BCL, known as the East Pakistan Student League, formed on January 4, 1948. Naimuddin Ahmed became its first convener, Dabirul Islam became President and Khaleque Nawaz Khan became General Secretary. The League participated in the Bengali language movement, the 1962 "education commission" movement, the 1966 six point movement, and the 1969 "Egaro Dofa Andolon" (11 Point Movement).

The founder General Secretary of Chatra League Khaleque Nawaz Khan defeated incumbent Prime Minister of the then East Pakistan Nurul Amin in the Jukto Front election in 1954 in Nandail constituency of Mymensingh.

1971 War

During the 1971 Liberation War, the members of the Chhatra League were recruited into Mujib Bahini, an armed group trained by RAW, aimed at fighting against the leftist freedom fighters and to bar them from taking the lead in the war. Mujib Bahini was accused of being involved in hooliganism and looting after the end of war. The incident happened during the nationwide strike called by Bangladesion Nationalist Party. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 sentenced eight of the accused to death and awarded life sentences to 13 others in the case.

Factional feud

Infighting and factionalism within the BCL is often violent. February 2010, Faruk, a university student from the Awami League, was killed during a clash within different factions in Rajshahi. However, the Awami League blames all these attacks on the Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Abubakar Siddique was a brilliant student at Dhaka University from a very poor family. He was injured during a factional clash of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Sir AF Rahman Hall on February 2, 2010 and died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital the following day.

Murder and torture

On December 9, 2012 BCL activists were filmed beating and hacking to death Biswajit Das, a young bystander. The incident happened during the nationwide strike called by Bangladesion Nationalist Party. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 sentenced eight of the accused to death and awarded life sentences to 13 others in the case.

On February 2, 2014, armed members of its unit in the University of Rajshahi are believed to have joined police in attacking students protesting fee hikes.

On October 3, 2016 College girl Khadija Akter Nargis, a stdent of Sylhet Government Women’s College, who was stabbed by a Bangladesh Chhatra League leader of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. Hearing the screams of the victim, locals rescued Khadija and caught Badrul Alam and handed him over to the police after giving him a good thrashing.

BCL Leader, Bashir Ullah from Comilla Victoria Government College turned his dormitory room into torture cell. He established this torture cell to torture anyone who don't agree with him. Among the tortured were general students, journalists, students from opposition student party, Bangladesh Chatro Dal and students from Bangladesh Chhatra League as well. Students who were tortured by him reported that he beat students with broken legs of benches.

Rape

On September 29, 2009 Ten activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) allegedly gang-raped a teenage girl at night and were later handed down mere punishment at village arbitration arranged to ensure their escape by local Awami League leaders.

On June 11, 2013 President of Savar College unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was sued on Monday on charge of rape.

On March 10, 2015 police arrested one Md Sohel, president of Dighinala Upazila Chhatra League of Khagrhachharhi on charges of rape after a case was filed by a rape victim’s mother.

On September 14, 2015 Habiganj Police arrested a leader of Kagapasha union unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from Borohati village of Baniachong upazila for allegedly raping a schoolgirl.

On October 5, 2015 four people including two activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and one of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were sued on Monday on charge of gang raping a schoolgirl at Chaugachha in Jessore.

On October 8, 2015, Detective Branch of Police arrested the BCL activist Shahinur Rahman, 24, who was the fourth year student of Philosophy Department at Dhaka University.

On April 5, 2016 Lion Parvez Ahmed, 28, convener of Dhamrai upazila unit of BCL was placed under one day remand by Dhaka Court in a case filed for kidnapping and raping a female garment worker at Savar, on the outskirts of the capital.

On November 9, 2016 Nuruzzaman, president of Amtoli upazila unit of BCL, was arrested by police on charge of his attempt to rape a 15-year-old school-girl in Pirojpur town.

On November 13, 2016 Tanim Hasan Tarek, the Chuadanga BCL leader, was caught red handed by mob beaten up after raping a local woman. The mob smashed his testicles as punishment after he was caught raping a middle-aged woman on late Friday night.

On December 15, 2016 As the accomplice of the rapists Ukhia Upazila Chhatra League general secretary Mokbul Hossain Mithun has a nexus with the investigation officer of the case, the culprits are roaming freely. Police don't arrest them.