Outlawed Chhatra League
Reza Mahmud :
As per the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009,’ Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, is prohibited from organising indoor or outdoor meetings, rallies, or processions.
Additionally, the law bars the publication of any speech or statements from this now-banned organisation in newspapers.
On Wednesday, the government, exercising its powers under Section 18, Sub-section (1) of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009,’ officially banned Chhatra League, designating it as a terror organization.
Following this decision, there has been widespread discussion across the country regarding whether Chhatra League can still organize political activities or if media outlets can publish statements from its leaders.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Dr. Shadeen Malik, when contacted by The New Nation on Thursday, said, “The status of Chhatra League will be assessed according to the provisions of the ‘Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009’.
” He noted that it is challenging to determine which activities are permitted under the law, which is extensive and detailed.
Advocate Shah Md. Khasruzzaman, President of the National Lawyers Association, echoed this sentiment, telling The New Nation on Thursday, “The ‘Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009′ does not allow Chhatra League to engage in political activities.
Furthermore, the media is prohibited from publishing their statements.”
Similarly, Supreme Court Senior Lawyer Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder agreed that all political activities of Chhatra League would now be considered illegal, and the media should refrain from covering their statements or speeches.
Meanwhile, the BNP has called for legal action against Chhatra League’s alleged involvement in violent activities, arguing that simply banning the organization is insufficient without bringing its members to justice.
BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman stated on Thursday that banning Chhatra League is not enough and that its leaders and activists, particularly those in possession of illegal weapons, must be held accountable to restore law and order.
“Is it enough to simply ban the Chhatra League? They possess illegal arms, such as sharp weapons, guns, and pistols, which can be used to incite violence. Therefore, it is imperative that they are brought to justice,” Rahman said.
The remarks were made during a program organized by the Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Party at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Meanwhile, Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan on Thursday said in his facebook page that banned organization Chhatra League’s people would not be appointed in government jobs.
Chhatra League was founded as the East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League on Jan 4, 1948, at Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University.
The organisation evolved into the Bangladesh Chhatra League after independence.
After the 1990 democratic uprising, the organisation’s reputation began to shift.
Over the past 15 years, during the Awami League’s rule since 2009, BCL has faced criticism for involvement in committee trading, extortion, and tender manipulation. The ban came hours after leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement had issued an ultimatum on the Muhammad Yunus-led administration to ban BCL by Thursday.