| Bangladesh Chhatra League | |
|---|---|
| বাংলাদেশ ছাত্রলীগ | |
| Also known as | BSL, BCL, Students' League, Chhatra League |
| Leader | Party President: Sheikh Hasina President: Saddam Hussain General Secretary: Sheikh Wali Asif Enan |
| Foundation | 4 January 1948 |
| Dates of operation | 1948–present |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Ideology | Mujibism |
| Slogan | Education, peace and progress |
| Major actions | Rape in JU |
| Notable attacks | July massacre Killing of Nahid Hossain Killing of Tofazzal Hossain Murder of Abrar Fahad Murder of Biswajit Das |
| Status | Active |
| Part of | Awami League |
| Opponents | State opponents Non-state opponents |
| Designated as a terrorist group by |  Bangladesh |
| Flag |  |
| Website | bsl |
The Bangladesh Chhatra League, formerly known as East Pakistan Student League, often simply called the Chhatra League, is a students' political organisation in Bangladesh, which was banned by the government on 23 October 2024.[1] The student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League has been repeatedly accused of using torture, extortion, violence, forced prostitution and killings to instill fear.[2]
More than 33 people were killed and 1,500 got seriously injured from attacks by BSL between 2009 and 2014. Number of fatalities rose to 129 between 2014 and 2018, while 31 people were killed in 2018 alone.
Following the attacks on student protesters in 2018, a petition was started by general people of Bangladesh to "Enlist Bangladesh Chhatra League (BSL) as a Terrorist Organization" at Change.org.[3][4] In 2019, prominent English-language daily of Bangladesh, Dhaka Tribune labelled the organization as "the brand of shame".[5] On 26 May 2022, after a series of attacks on dissident student groups, eight left-wing student organizations termed Bangladesh Chhatra League a 'terrorist organization'.[6]
On 15 July, during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, led under the banner of Anti-discrimination Students Movement and attended by students from various universities, colleges, and schools across Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Chhatra League along with Bangladesh Jubo League, Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League and the law enforcement agencies conducted a series of attacks on the participants.[7] These attacks resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 students and injured over 15,000. Additionally, wounded students seeking treatment at Dhaka Medical College were also attacked by activists of this organisation. The violence was widely referred to as the 'July massacre'.[8][9][10]
- ^ "Bangladesh students attacked during Dhaka protest". BBC News. 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Father demands justice after student beaten to death in Bangladesh". The Guardian. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Awami League / Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
- ^ "Bloody Sunday in Bangladesh". democracynewslive.com. 5 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "The brand of shame that is Chhatra League". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Student orgs for holding meeting at DU for peaceful atmosphere on campus". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Six killed as clashes erupt all over". 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "BCL unleashes fury on quota protesters". The Daily Star. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Chhatra League activists storm DMCH premises in search of protesters". Daily Sun. July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ "DU clash: Injured quota reform protesters attacked again at DMCH". Dhaka Tribune. 16 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.