JCD set for leadership reshuffle soon
With growing speculation among leaders and activists the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing for a major leadership reshuffle, as a new central committee of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) is likely to be formed within the next month through the party’s existing selection process, according to insiders.
The central committee of JCD is likely to be reconstituted within the next month through the existing selection process, party insiders said.
Seeking anonymity, some JCD leaders told The New Nation, “We believe the upcoming leadership must balance both organisational activism and intellectual engagement to strengthen the party’s student base.”
The tenure of the current central committee, led by President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, ended on March 1 this year. The committee of the Dhaka University (DU) unit also completed its term nearly a year ago.
On March 1, 2024, a seven-member committee was announced with Ganesh Chandra Ray Sahas as president and Nahiduzzaman Shipon as general secretary.
BNP’s student affairs secretary Rokibul Islam recently told the media that a new JCD committee could be announced at any time.
The BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman already held a meeting with the JCD leaders and instructed the committee to reshuffle as the student wing was able to hit the milestone.
After the meeting aspirants have already begun demonstrating their presence on campus through showdowns, iftar gatherings with students and various party programmes.
According to party sources, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman held a meeting with political advisers at the party’s Tejgaon office on February 28. During the meeting, advisers recommended quickly reorganising BNP’s associate and affiliated bodies to strengthen the party’s organisational structure.
Since then, speculation has intensified among leaders and activists that new leadership will soon be announced for both the central committee and the DU unit, considered the organisation’s most influential branch.
A party source said both committees could be formed within a month. Party sources said the leadership is also considering intelligence reports on potential candidates to ensure that controversial figures do not enter the new committees.
Two intelligence agencies have reportedly been tasked with preparing background reports on possible contenders.
Another objective, leaders said, is to ensure that individuals previously linked to the student wing of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir do not secure positions within Chhatra Dal.
Maminul Islam Zisan, joint general secretary of the current committee and a hopeful for the presidency, said the organisation would request Tarique Rahman to announce the new committee soon. “I have been deprived in the past three committees,” he said.
However, several BNP leaders prefer retaining the selection method, arguing that introducing elections at the central level could trigger excessive spending and factional competition among activists.
For the central president’s post, candidates being discussed include Shyamal Malum and Nasir Uddin Nasir from the 2007-08 session; Ejazul Kabir Ruel, Riyad Rahman, Monjurul Alam Riyad, HM Abu Zafar and Khorshed Alam Sohel from the 2008-09 session; Maminul Haque Zisan, Amanullah Aman, Hasanur Rahman, Sharif Pradhan Shuvo, Mostafizur Rahman and Ariful Islam Arif from the 2009-10 session; and Anisur Rahman Khandakar Anik and Masum Billah from the 2010-11 session.
For the central general secretary post, names under discussion include Nahiduzzaman Shipon, Minhaj Ahmed Prince, Nasir Uddin Shawon, Gazi Saddam Hossain, Raju Ahmed, Mahmud Islam Kajol, Shamim Akter Shuvo and Ibrahim Khalil of 2011-12 session.
For the Dhaka University unit presidency, possible contenders include Nur Alam Bhuiyan Imon (2012-13 session); Al Amin, Imam Al Naser Mishuk, Jasim Khan and Rajib Rahman (2013-14); and Saif Khan, BM Kawsar, Shariful Islam Shabib and Tanvir Azadi (2014-15).
For the general secretary post, names discussed include Abidul Islam Khan and Mallik Wasi Uddin Tami (2015-16); Tanvir Hasan, Abu Hayat Md Zulfikar Jisan and Ayaz Imon (2016-17); and Nahid Khandakar, Zarif Rahman, Alamin Palash and Sagar Tapadar (2017-18).
