Rangamati Student Wing Committee Dissolved Amidst Protests, Office Locked
Photo Collected
RANGAMATI, Bangladesh – A faction of the Bangladesh National Student Party (JCD) in Rangamati has locked the organization’s district office in protest against the recent formation of its district committee. The office was sealed late Wednesday night, and a padlock remained in place as of noon Thursday.
Following the lock-in, supporters gathered outside the office Wednesday night, chanting slogans demanding the dissolution of the newly formed committee. They vowed the padlock would remain until their demands are met.
The district JCD office is located in the Kathaltali area of Rangamati town, sharing a building with the local unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organizations. On Thursday morning, two padlocks were observed on the JCD office door – one added by the protesting faction and another that was already in place. No party officials were present at the office Thursday morning.
The 23-member ad-hoc Rangamati district committee was announced on May 2, approved by JCD central president Rakibul Islam and general secretary Nasiruddin. Mohammad Oli Ahad was named president and Naimul Islam general secretary. The committee was instructed to form a full committee within 30 days.
The day after the committee’s announcement, a section of party members protested, blocking roads and demanding the new committee be nullified. Tensions escalated on May 4 when opposing factions within the JCD organized counter-programs, leading authorities to impose Section 144, a legal measure restricting public gatherings, to restore order.
Mohammad Parvez Hossain, an incumbent joint general secretary of the newly formed committee and one of the protesters, stated that the intention was to halt all activities of the district JCD committee until a resolution regarding its restructuring could be reached. He alleged that despite this understanding, the committee leadership proceeded with various sub-district programs, prompting the protest and the office lock-in.
Contacted for comment, Mohammad Oli Ahad, the district JCD president, said he was in Baghaichhari sub-district for organizational work. He claimed to be unaware of the additional padlock, stating the office already had one lock. Ahad acknowledged that many members were left out of the initial committee and confirmed that discussions are underway to include them in the full committee formation.
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