JCD expels 2 DU leaders for life

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has expelled its two Dhaka University (DU) hall unit leaders for life over alleged organisational indiscipline following a controversy surrounding the judging panel for a televised debate competition at Bangladesh Television (BTV).

The expelled leaders are Samsul Haque Anan, senior joint convener of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall unit, and Nafe Bin Mamun, known as Nafis, a member of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall unit.

In a press release issued on Wednesday night, JCD said the decision was taken over specific allegations of organisational indiscipline. 

The expulsion was approved by its central president, Rakibul Islam Rakib, and general secretary, Nasir Uddin Nasir. However, the statement did not specify the allegations against the two leaders.

Nafis said the controversy stemmed from a debate competition organised at BTV. Junayed Mufrad Mousum, a former candidate from Chhatra League-backed panel in DU Debating Society election, complained to BTV’s director general, alleging that Nafis was associated with a covert organisation, he said.

“We designed the judging panel to include people from diverse ideological backgrounds, including left-wing and right-wing debaters. I believe the controversy arose because individuals allegedly associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir were included in the list,” Nafis said.

He added that Anan, who accompanied him to meet the BTV director general, was also accused of having covert links to the organisation. 

Several students had been involved in preparing the list of judges, and they had not received any specific instructions regarding its composition, he said.

Attempts to contact JCD’s central GS and DU unit GS Nahiduzzaman Shipon were unsuccessful.