Full committee after seven years: CU Chhatra Dal makes a new start with 420 members

After a long seven-year wait, the Chittagong University (CU) branch of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has got a full committee of 420 members. The committee was approved in a notification signed by Central Chhatra Dal President Md. Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir on Wednesday (October 29) night.

A partial committee of only five members was formed on August 11, 2023. Although the full committee was supposed to be given within a month, it took a long 25 months to implement it. As a result, the organization got a full committee only after the expiration of the two-year term according to the Chhatra Dal constitution.

Four leaders of the previous partial committee have been kept in the newly announced committee. However, senior vice-president Mohammad Mamun ur Rashid Mamun, who was expelled for violating party discipline in the Chaksu elections, has been excluded.

The 420-member committee includes 60 vice-presidents, 92 joint general secretaries, 63 assistant general secretaries, 64 assistant organizational secretaries, and 62 members.

Ayubur Rahman Toufiq and Shafayat Hossain, candidates of the Chhatra Dal-backed panel in the Chaksu elections, have also been placed in the new committee. Ayubur Rahman Toufiq has been placed as joint general secretary (number 43) and Shafayat Hossain as joint general secretary (number 11).

Ayubur Rahman Toufiq said, “After a long time, the organization has got a full-fledged committee—it is a matter of pride. My goal is not to get a position, but to serve the party.”

However, questions have been raised about the student status of some of the leaders of the new committee. President Alauddin Mohsin said, “Even though my studies were hampered by the opposition, I was with the party, so I got the responsibility.”

General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman said, “We were at the forefront of the movement, now we have been admitted to the Masters as per the rules.”

Although the CU Chhatra Shibir congratulated the Chhatra Dal on social media after the announcement of the full committee, those concerned have raised questions about giving a full declaration to the expired committee now.

Even though the CU Chhatra Dal wants to start the organization's activities anew after a long period of stagnation, analysts believe that the debate regarding the students and tenure of the leaders could pose a major challenge.