JCD council on July 15

Amid a row over the formation of its new committee maintaining a specific age limit, the council of BNP's student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) will be held on July 15, reports UNB.

Shamsuzzaman Dudu, BNP vice chairman and ex-president of JCD, came up with the announcement at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office on Sunday.

A schedule for the election to form the new JCD committee was also announced, ignoring the demand of a group of demonstrating leaders of its recently dissolved committee for removing the age limit to vie for different posts of the student body.

"Chhatra Dal has long been playing a leading role in establishing democracy, students' rights and protecting the country's independence...we've taken steps for electing the new student leaders of Chhatra Dal in a democratic manner through holding its council on July 15," Dudu.

He said they have formed a seven-member election-steering committee, led by ex-JCD leader Khairul Kabir Khokon, five-member scrutiny committee, led by Fazlul Haque Milon, and three-member appellate committee, led by him (Dudu) to successfully elect the new JCD leadership through voting.

Replying to a question, Dudu said the direct election will be held to the posts of the president and the general secretary of JCD.

The BNP leader said those who want to contest the election must be unmarried. "Married people can't be candidate as they're not considered as students."

He said they will disclose the name of the venue for holding the election within a couple of days.

As his attention was drawn to the demand of a group of JCD leaders for the cancellation of age limit, Dudu said they cannot accept the demand, and all the candidates must have passed their SSC either in 2000 or later on.

Later, Convener of JCD election steering committee and chief election commissioner Khairul Kabir Khokon announced schedule for the election to its new committee.

Khokon said the draft voter list will be unveiled on Monday while the final one on Wednesday after disposing of objections on Tuesday.

As per the schedule, he said the nomination papers will be distributed on June 27-28 while those can be submitted on June 29-30. "The nomination papers will be scrutinised on July 1-3 and a draft list of candidates will be published on July 4."