Road blockades, cocktail throwing, and Section 144 in three districts surrounding Chhatra Dal’s new committee

❐ Staff Correspondent

Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar, and Rangamati have turned turbulent over the announcement of the new committee of the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal. Allegations of forming a “pocket committee” and “failing to evaluate dedicated leaders” have led to road blockades, protests with burning tires, and cocktail explosions, turning various area’s into battlegrounds. Section 144 has been imposed in Rangamati to bring the situation under control.

On Monday, May 4, at noon, deprived leaders and activists staged protests by burning tires at Town Hall Mor and Press Club areas in Maijdee, the district town of Noakhali.

Eyewitnesses said that during the protest, several cocktails suddenly exploded, spreading panic in the area. Reports also indicate that several pedestrians were injured by brickbats.

Agitated leaders alleged that despite enduring 17 years of movements, struggles, imprisonment, and repression, they were not included in the new committee. In protest, 10 leaders of the newly formed committee held a press conference and announced their collective resignation. They have called for immediate intervention by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

The situation is also tense in Cox’s Bazar. Allegations have been raised that many dedicated leaders were excluded due to their affiliation with Member of Parliament Lutfur Rahman Kajal.

On Sunday, May 3, in the evening, deprived activists blocked roads at Shaheed Sarani intersection in the town by burning tires and chanting slogans such as “We do not accept the Sylhet committee.”

The most heated situation is prevailing in the hill district of Rangamati.

Following the committee announced at midnight on Saturday, May 2, clashes broke out on Monday, May 4, at noon between the president’s group and the deprived group. They engaged in repeated chases and counter-chases while chanting slogans like “If you want donations, take donations, but form a new committee.”

As Banarupa and Kathaltali areas of the town turned into battlegrounds, the district administration imposed Section 144 in those areas to maintain law and order. A large number of police have been deployed there at present.