Shawdesh Desk:

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and General Secretary Golam Rabbani have been relieved of their posts in the wake of various allegations, including extortion.

Awami League Central Working Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Ganabhaban on Saturday with AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

BCL Vice-President Al Nahian Khan Joy has been made acting president and Lekhak Bhattyacharya general secretary.

AL insiders said that the party president took the harsh decision against Shovon and Rabbani due to their alleged involvement in controversial activities, including extortion.

Allegations are rife that both Shovon and Rabbani demanded a high percentage of a development project involving about Tk 1,500 crore for Jahangirnagar University.

The two BCL high-ups were also facing allegations, including taking drugs at AL central office and keeping controversial students in the BCL central committee by depriving dedicated ones.

Shovon and Rabbani were made president and general secretary of BCL on July 31 after its national council session on June 11 and 12 last year.

Emerging from the meeting, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader told reporters that Shovon and Rabbani had been asked to resign from their respective posts.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also directed us to hold the council session on December 20 and 21,” he said.

The BCL is a student wing of the ruling party, which has been in office for the third consecutive term.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday instructed her party’s central leaders to hold its council sessions timely.

“Hold the council session of Awami League timely,” she said while delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee at Ganabhaban.

Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling party, gave the direction to further strengthen the organisational activities.

“Those who usurp office do not have the responsibility. But, Awami League has the responsibility towards the country and its people,” she said.

Asking the leaders to become more responsible, the premier said the party was nourished by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu asking Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“The confidence and belief of the people on the Awami League must be upheld,” she said, asking them to remain alert so that the confidence of the people on the party can no way be shattered.

Sheikh Hasina said the popularity of the party was increasing day by day.

“Awami League is the lone party, which outlines plans for the country’s development even in the opposition,” she said.

Terming AL a party of the people, she said it always works for the welfare of the country and its people.

“Bangladesh has earned special recognition in the international arena due to its achievements in the last one decade. Now, an interest in Bangladesh has been raised among all,” she said.

The premier said Bangladesh would turn into a developed one by 2041.

“Being the responsible political party, the Awami League has been working relentlessly to change the fate of the countrymen,” she added.