STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the ruling BNP, is facing growing resentment from its grassroots after announcing committees for 45 units, with “deprived” leaders and activists staging protests in at least five districts and accusing the central leadership of ignoring long-serving organisers.

The backlash has created a fresh organisational challenge for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s affiliated organisations as it tries to expand and strengthen its field-level activities, insiders said.

On Saturday night, 45 committees -- for university, medical college, district and metropolitan units -- were announced, including 22 new partial committees and 23 full committees.

Following the announcement, grassroots leaders and activists staged protests, demanding the reconstitution of the committees.

The protests have already spread to Rangamati, Noakhali, Kishoreganj, Dinajpur and the capital’s Nayapaltan area, where demonstrators alleged that active, long-serving organisers were ignored while inactive, married, elderly and non-student individuals were included.

Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said, “When we give posts to two persons and give other posts to the rest, many people often feel disappointed and resentful. For now, we are taking these things as quite normal.

“We believe they will accept the organisation’s decision. If they remain patient and follow the organisation’s rules, a situation and environment will be created for them to become leaders in the future.”

He said the committees were formed after considering all factors and that the allegations against them were baseless.

Chhatra Dal insiders said the grassroots discontent has become a major test for the central leadership at a time when the organisation is trying to revive educational In

SEE PAGE 8 COL 1