Chhatra League’s huge procession in Banshkhali, Chittagong

BD Digest Report

Breaking the long-standing silence on the streets of Banshkhali, Chittagong, the traditional student organization Bangladesh Chhatra League has taken to the streets. The huge procession was held to protest the repression, false cases and murders of Awami League leaders and activists in the current political situation of the country and to demand the withdrawal of unconstitutional bans imposed on the organization.

On Friday (April 10), after Friday prayers, a large number of Chhatra League leaders and activists took to the streets in the Banigram Bazar area of ​​Sadhanpur Union of the upazila, carrying national and party flags.

The procession, which started at around 1:30 pm, filled the air of Banigram with the slogans of ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’. This sudden procession of Chhatra League against the political vendetta and repression that has been going on for 20 months has created new enthusiasm among the local general students and public. The participants in the procession demanded the immediate withdrawal of all false cases filed against Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina and the unconditional release of all imprisoned patriotic leaders and activists.

Leaders and activists who participated in a brief gathering after the procession said, “The Chhatra League is not an organization that should be banned; it is part of the history of Bangladesh. The undemocratic ban that has been imposed to suppress the student community has been rejected with hatred by the young generation of this country. Our presence on the streets proves that it is not possible to stop the Chhatra League’s path with the barrel of a gun or unconstitutional laws.”

The marchers alleged that the current government wants to expel Awami League and Chhatra League from the field out of political vendetta. But the bond that Chhatra League has with the soil and people of Banshkhali cannot be severed by any conspiracy. They called for the immediate lifting of the so-called ban on this organization, which is the passion and love of 52 percent of the country’s people.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies stepped up their efforts after receiving news of the procession, but the Chhatra League leaders and activists successfully completed their program and left the area. Local Chhatra League leaders said that all undemocratic decisions will be responded to through stronger protests on the streets in the future.