A section of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders are doing trade over college admissions by forcing the authorities to get candidates of their choice enrolled.

Many leaders of BCL, student body associated with the ruling Awami League, have already taken huge sums from admission seekers, promising them enrolment, said college sources.

Lately, the authorities of several colleges in the capital and outside had to stop the admission process for rowdy demonstrations by Chhatra League activists incensed at not getting their so-called political quota.

BCL men would not let the admission to honours first year under National University go on unless the authorities agree to take in their candidates, added the sources.

In pursuing their interests, they are

violating admission rules at will.

The admission process at Dhaka College has remained stalled for last three days with the ruling party's student leaders holding tenaciously to their demand for “special quota".

In many educational institutions, academic activities have been disrupted due to fights between BCL factions seeking to establish dominance on the campuses to edge ahead in admission trade.

In Kushtia Government College, Chhatra League activists yesterday stopped admissions to first-year honours. They have asked the college body to reach an understanding with them to go ahead with the admission process, reports our Kushtia correspondent.

Rival BCL groups clashed at Kabi Nazrul College in the capital on January 28 and in Comilla Victoria College on January 29 over admission trade.

Admission situation remains chaotic also atTitumir, Eden, Badrunnessa and Mirpur Bangla colleges in the city and many reputable institutions elsewhere in the country. BCL leaders are pressurising the authorities of these colleges to take in students who are not on merit lists, sources said.

Viva voce of first year students at the Dhaka College was suspended after BCL leaders drove admission seekers out of the campus and insulted some teachers on Saturday.

They also vandalised vehicles and put barricades on Mirpur road the next day.

Sources said the Dhaka College BCL unit president and general secretary held talks with the principal and other teachers in the evening to reach a compromise.

BCL leaders charge an admission seeker Tk 10,000 to 50,000 depending on the subject the student desires to study.

They charge Tk 40,000 to 50,000 for subjects like Accounting and Management, Tk 30,000 for English or Sociology and Tk 10,000 to Tk 25,000 for other subjects, the sources said.

"Some Chhatra League leaders asked me to give them Tk 15,000 for studying my desired subject at Dhaka College. I struck a bargain with them for Tk 10,000," said an admission seeker wishing anonymity.

BCL leaders get students admitted to the college in negotiation with some teachers. A few students do not appear at the viva voce leaving the seats vacant every year. Later, students chosen by the BCL leaders fill those seats, the sources said.

But the NU this year adopted a new policy for admission to honours courses to prevent the malpractice. As per the new rules, the NU will publish results according to the