In a significant political move, the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has banned the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party. The BCL has been declared a “terrorist organisation” under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a decision perceived as yielding to the demands of the Jamaat-e-Islami and student leaders aligned with them.
The ban, which took effect immediately, was announced by Bangladesh’s home ministry late on Wednesday. The government cited a history of serious misconduct by the BCL over the past 15 years, including allegations of violence, harassment, and exploitation of public resources.
This decisive action comes in response to escalating demands from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, who have been staging protests across Bangladesh. The movement, which previously attempted to forcibly enter President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s residence, has presented five key demands to end their agitation. These demands include the dissolution of the BCL, the removal of President Shahabuddin, and the abolishment of the current Constitution.
Reports from the Times of India suggest that law adviser Asif Nazrul, information and broadcasting adviser Nahid Islam, and sports adviser Asif Mahmud were among those within the Yunus-led interim government who advocated for the ban on the BCL.
This ban on the BCL is the latest development in a period of intense political upheaval in Bangladesh. Violent protests, which began in July over government job quotas, forced Hasina to flee the country on August 5th, paving the way for the interim government under Yunus. These protests, some of the deadliest since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, have resulted in over 700 deaths and numerous injuries.
BCL leaders and activists have been accused of using violence against protesting students and the general public during the unrest, leading to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people and jeopardizing the safety of many more. These allegations have further fueled public anger and contributed to the growing demands for accountability and reform.
The Bangladesh Chhatra League, founded in 1948 as the East Pakistan Chhatra League by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father, has been a significant faction within the Awami League since its inception. In 2013, the Hasina government banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s main Islamic party, and its affiliated groups under the anti-terrorism law, accusing them of instigating violence during student-led protests and engaging in alleged terrorist activities linked to their actions during the 1971 independence war.
However, the interim government, after taking power following the fall of the Hasina-led regime, has lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami. This recent decision to ban the BCL, coupled with the lifting of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, highlights the shifting political landscape in Bangladesh and the ongoing struggle for power and influence.
The future of Bangladesh remains uncertain, with the country grappling with the consequences of political instability and the ongoing demands for change. The ban on the BCL is a significant step in this evolving situation, with far-reaching implications for the future of student activism and the political landscape in Bangladesh.