In a dramatic turn of events, 160 members of the recently announced Chandpur District Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have resigned, citing unfair treatment and procedural irregularities within the committee’s formation.
A large number of members, 160 in total, have resigned from the newly-formed Chandpur District Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, raising concerns over the committee’s composition and the process of selecting members. The resignations were announced at a press conference held on Wednesday, February 19, at the Chandpur Press Club, just hours after the 217-member committee was made public.
Joint Convener Mujahid Shihab, one of the leaders of the disgruntled faction, revealed the reasons for their resignation, saying, “Most members are unaware of why their names were included. The committee was formed through lobbying and other questionable means. The opinions of the activists were completely disregarded. The majority of the people in this committee do not represent the spirit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We have enough information that most of them are working under the mandate of political parties.”
He further criticized the central leadership for failing to provide answers when concerns were raised. “We are rejecting this controversial formation consciously. We demand that the committee be dissolved and that a new committee be formed through discussions, prioritizing those who truly embody the spirit of the movement,” he added.
The resignation came shortly after the announcement of the 217-member committee on the movement’s official Facebook page. The committee’s newly appointed convener was Nadim Patwari, a student of Sonargaon University. The announcement, made earlier in the day, named students from various colleges, universities, and madrassas in the Chandpur district to key positions.
The faction calling for the committee’s dissolution included student representatives from Hajiganj, Sakib Hossain and Sagar Hossain, who reiterated the demand for a more transparent and principled reformation of the leadership.
Liberty News’ local correspondent states this latest development highlights ongoing divisions within the movement, and calls are now growing for the formation of a leadership that reflects the core values and spirit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which has been vocal in addressing student rights and social equality.
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