Bangladesh's interim government has imposed a ban on the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student organisation affiliated with the Awami League party led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The decision, made on Wednesday, follows demands from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which called for the student body’s prohibition.
In a notification signed by Senior Secretary Md Abdul Momen of the Public Security Division within the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government outlined the BCL's involvement in numerous activities over the past 15 years that have jeopardised public safety. These include allegations of murder, rape, torture, harassment in student dormitories, and manipulation of tender processes.
The notification stated that there is “sufficient evidence” that the BCL has continued to engage in “conspiratorial, destructive, and provocative activities” against the state, even after the fall of the Awami League government.
The ban comes in the wake of violent protests that have engulfed the country, leading to hundreds of deaths since mid-July. Hasina fled to India on August 5 as unrest escalated against her government.
During the recent Anti-Discrimination movement, BCL leaders and activists reportedly attacked protesting students and civilians, resulting in numerous casualties.
The government’s notification confirmed that the BCL's actions endangered the lives of many citizens and intensified violence during this period of unrest.
Consequently, the interim government declared the BCL a banned entity under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, with the order taking immediate effect.
“The ban will come into effect immediately,” the notification read.
The announcement follows a day after the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement presented a five-point demand, which included calls for the repeal of Bangladesh’s Constitution, the removal of President Shahabuddin, and a ban on the BCL.
Nusrat Tabassum, a coordinator for the student movement, expressed gratitude towards the interim government at the Raju Sculpture of Dhaka University, stating, “Bangladesh and Dhaka University are now free from stigma. We would like to thank the interim government.”
Founded in 1948 at Dhaka University, the BCL has historically been regarded as the student wing of the Awami League, embodying a long-standing affiliation with the party.
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