Bangladesh Bans Controversial Student Group Bangladesh Chhatra League Amid Growing Unrest

Dhaka, Bangladesh — In a dramatic response to mounting student protests, Bangladesh’s interim government has officially banned  Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), an influential student organization historically tied to the ruling Awami League (AL) party. The announcement followed days of demonstrations and an ultimatum from student leaders demanding BCL’s dissolution due to alleged crimes ranging from extortion to violent assaults on students. 

A government notification, citing Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009, officially designated  BCL as a banned entity. This legislation allows the government to proscribe entities involved in terrorist or subversive activities. The statement declared that  BCL had engaged in criminal acts threatening public security, including coercion, harassment, and violent suppression of student movements, particularly following the AL government’s fall in August. 

Hundreds of Dhaka University students gathered outside the vice chancellor’s office, celebrating the news. Abdul Kader, a coordinator of the student movement, announced celebratory marches and events across the country’s university campuses, declaring this decision a “triumph of justice for all students.” 

The government’s notification outlined serious allegations against  BCL, including extortion, dominance over campus resources, and harassment. Particularly during  AL’s recent regime, it states,  BCL was implicated in violent crimes, with widely reported incidents involving coercive control of dormitory spaces known as “gono rooms” and several cases of abuse that resulted in fatalities. Investigations highlighted murders of students like Abrar Fahad in 2019 and Zubair Ahmed in 2012 as emblematic of BCL’s violent reputation. 

Critics of the ban, however, have voiced concerns. Bahauddin Nasim, a senior AL leader, condemned the move, asserting it undermines the spirit of the Liberation War and the legacy of the Chhatra League’s historical role. “This government lacks authority to dismantle an organization foundational to Bangladesh’s independence,” he remarked. Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, added that identifying and prosecuting individuals responsible for the crimes might have been a more effective approach. 

Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan rejected the ban, calling it “illegal and unconstitutional” and urging the government’s resignation. Leaders underscored the organization’s deep ties to Bangladesh’s history, stating that “blood of BCL leaders and activists is in every inch of this country.” 

Despite its significant contributions to the Liberation War, the Language Movement, and or pivotal historical events, BCL’s recent record has been marred by allegations of corruption and violence. In 2009, Sheikh Hasina, its organizational leader, formally resigned in disapproval of BCL’s escalating transgressions, and in 2019 removed top leaders amid mounting public discontent. 

As the government increases security amid continued protests, the impact of this ban will likely reverberate throughout Bangladesh’s student and political communities, reshaping the landscape of student activism in the country.