Economics student Kazi Mousumi Afroz, who used to be a regular at events of the now-banned Chhatra League, has become the president of pro-BNP Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Rokeya Hall of Jahangirnagar University (JU).
Like her, several other known members of the Chhatra League have successfully made a shock switch.
Besides, three people who face charges of beating a former JU student to death on 18 September last year now have key positions in the JU unit of the JCD.
Since the JCD released the names of the 370 members of its JU committee on 8 August, many insiders have been saying that activists who deserved to be in the committee were dropped.
At least 30 JCD leaders and activists marched on campus over the inclusion of BCL activists that day.
Murder charges unsubstantiated, accused says
On 18 September last year, Shamim Molla, a former BCL leader and student of JU, was beaten to death on campus. Two days later, the university administration filed a case with Ashulia police station accusing eight named and 20-25 unnamed individuals of murder.
A day after the murder, the university authorities suspended the eight accused for six months.
The same day, the JCD central committee issued a statement claiming that the accused had no affiliation with the student body.
However, of the eight, Hamidullah Salman, Raju Ahmed, and Mohammad Rajon Mia are now in the JU committee of JCD.
Salman is the president of Rabindranath Tagore Hall, Raju a joint convener of the JU dormitory committee, and Rajon a member of the latter.
The list containing their names was issued by JCD's JU unit Convener Zahir Uddin Babor and Member Secretary Wasim Ahmed Onik.
Contacted, Salman said, "The university administration accused me in the case without proper investigation.
"I am a regular student. The case is being investigated. If a proper investigation is done, I will be proven innocent."
Defection raising eyebrows
Firoz Ahmed Rimon, now JCD general secretary of dormitory number 21, and Saidur Rahman Shimanto, vice-president of the same dormitory, both used to attend Chhatra League programmes and show support.
Shakur Bappi, joint convener of the JU expanded committee, was also a BCL activist.
Similarly, JCD's Salam-Barkat Hall unit President Saidul Islam used to be the cultural affairs secretary of the JU Chhatra Union.
None of them could be reached for comment.
'No idea why we were chosen'
At least three new members of the dorm committees say they do not know why they were named in the committee of an organisation they never even supported publicly.
"I have never attended any Chhatra Dal rally or meeting. When I contacted the organisation, the leaders said they would remove my name," says Umme Habiba Beli, the new general secretary of Nawab Faizunnesa Hall.
Nosis Mokarrama Teresa and Rifa Nanjiba Hia, joint secretaries of Bir Protik Taramon Bibi Hall, also said they had no idea why they had been chosen.
The JCD disbanded the five-member committee of Maulana Bhashani Hall amid criticism. This decision was announced in a statement issued on 10 August by Zahirul Islam, who himself is member of an ad-hoc committee.
In the suspended committee, the president was Ferdous Rahman, who was no longer a student of JU.
Convener of the dorm committee Zahir Uddin Babar says the list of committee members was made through proper background checks. But if anomalies are found, the organisation will take steps.
Demand for ban on dorm-based politics
A group of students demonstrated in front of JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan's residence on the night of 9 August demanding a ban on dorm-based politics.
Prof Kamrul later met the protesting students, who also demanded guidelines on how the students involved in political activities and bullying should be punished.
Their other demands include ensuring students' basic rights, preventing political parties from giving dorm residents gifts that mention the name of the party, and taking immediate action against residents who are no longer students.
The VC told them that their demands would be discussed at the next meeting of the JU administration.
A student body earlier expressed concerns at a press conference that the new JCD members might oppress students who do not support their party.
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