The 74th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), an associate body of the ruling Awami League, is being observed across the country in befitting manner.
The student organization was founded on this day in 1948 at Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of the University of Dhaka.
BCL played pioneering roles in the Language Movement in 1952, the victory of Jukta Front in 1954 general elections, anti-Aiyub movement in 1958, education movement in 1962, six-point movement in 1966, mass uprising in 1969, elections in 1970 and the War of Independence in 1971.
However, grouping, intraparty feud, attack and clashes in recent years erupted mass denunciation of the organization.
After the independence, the Chhatra League has seen splits time and again. Factions of the Chhatra League played vital roles in the anti-autocracy movement in 1983 and in 1990.
To mark the day, Chhatra League took six-day programme. Today’s programmes include hoisting national and party flags at party offices at 7:30am, placing wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujib at Dhanmondi-32 and paying tribute by placing wreath at his grave at Tungipara at 8:00am, cutting cake at Dhaka University’s Curzon Hall at 9:00am and bringing out procession from Aparajeyo Bangla on the campus at 2:00pm.
The Chhatra League faction backed by the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Jasad will hold a rally at historic Battala in front of the Arts Building of Dhaka University. The organisation has taken out programmes at all universities and districts, said a press release.
Other factions of the student organisation have also taken elaborate programmes.