A dramatic change is taking place in student politics of the country, as young student leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of the main opposition Awami League (AL), are going to hold positions in the fresh committee following election to be held today.

Former BCL leaders have already taken initiatives to elect student leaders whose ages are not more than 27 years old, though earlier, AL President Sheikh Hasina extended the age limit up to 29, AL sources said.

Sources added that this kind of radical change would usher in a new era in student politics.

It was decided that only those who passed SSC in 1995 or later could contest for the organisation's central positions.

AL sources said young leaderships have been brought to fore with the directions of three sons of Sheikh family including, Sajib Wazed Joy, son of Sheikh Hasina, Barrister Boby, son of Sheikh Rehana and Barrister Tapas, son of Sheikh Moni.

Joy, during his visit to Bangladesh last year, expressed dissatisfaction over the current trend of student politics, sources said.

Polls to elect next central committee leaders of BCL will be held today at the Institute of Engineers in

the city.

Around 900 aspirants have already submitted their CVs to the council preparations committee mentioning their years of passing the SSC exams.

Around 2600 councillors from all over the country will cast their votes, said election commissioner Balaram Poddar adding that all is set for voting.

Vote will continue from 9:00am to 5:00pm without any break.

Transparent ballot boxes will be used and each councillor has been provided identity card with photo.

The result of the polls will be announced after voting, Poddar said.

Meantime, in reaction to this qualitative change in the BCL committee, a JCD leader told The Daily Star that it might affect the next committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of ruling BNP.

He said JCD should also take initiative to bring young leadership in its next committee to be formed in 2007.

Meanwhile, Hasina inaugurated the two-day reunion and national council of BCL that began yesterday with an indication that only students could do student politics.

She also emphasised that the brilliant students will get preference in the BCL leadership from now on.