History of Chhatra League is the History of Bengal's Independence

 

4th January is the founding anniversary of Chhatra League, an organization of Bengali identity. This organization, which is almost a century old, is one of the founders of an independent country called 'Bangladesh'. The Fazlul Haque Hall of Dhaka University started its journey and Chhatra League spread all over the country with the awakening of millions of freedom fighters. Chhatra League was the strong vanguard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the ultimate liberation of the Bengali nation.

Shortly after the independence from British rule in 1947, my forefathers had to embark on a new and painful struggle. I feel that people of any language or caste in any country of the world did not have to shed fresh hot blood to claim their mother in their own language.That blood that was spilled so glorious and self-respecting that the dawn of Pakistan, acquired on the basis of two-nation theory, laid the groundwork for the development, expansion and success of the Bengali national entity - the building of an independent sovereign state.

Chhatra League was born on 4th January 1948, making Naimuddin Ahmed as convenor with the aim of glorifying the identity of Bengalis. The architects who performed this impossible task in the great vow of the establishment of this Chhatra League, did not confine their thoughts only to the state right of Bengali language.On the contrary, even after the recognition of Bengali language in the language movement, those high-spirited, exuberant, arrogant souls made their debut as a golden organization in the basin of the language movement. Chhatra League stood on the threshold of the 70's election and embraced the 70's election with a calm heart by making and crossing each step of the movement in '52, '62, '66, and '69.

By swaying in the current of every movement, the Bengali national consciousness was replaced in the wider heart of the people of that time in such a way that by making Bangabandhu the symbol of the movement, Chhatra League not only transformed the movement from autonomy to liberty and from independence to liberation.  Not only did it transform, Chhatra League calmed the minds of the then awakened masses of Bengal so much that the unarmed nation not only confronted the most violent and demonic army of the world but also snatched the bright sun of freedom by tearing apart the chests of subjugation.

Shah Moazzem Hossain, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, Enayetur Rahman, KM Obaidur Rahman were the embodiment of leadership in the student movement of 1962. The altar-based creation of the movement, their personal life, conversations, movements, upheavals - were perfected in such a perfect way that, all in all, they were able to become the ideal men and imitators of the student movement.

After announcing 6 points programmes (known as 'Charter of Freedom of Bengalis') by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on February 5, 1966, Syed Mazharul Haque Baki and Abdur Razzak also became rare examples in the field of student politics. With the help of refined thinking and intellect, they were able to raise the demand of 6 points by impressing the trend of left politics. This movement was initially a non-violent movement, but gradually it turned to violence; As a result, the six-point demand became a people's demand under the leadership of Chhatra League. The 6-point demand has created a greater impact among the students which led to the creation of 11-point movement demand.

On the occasion of the founding anniversary of the BCL on January 4, 1969, the all-party student struggle council led by the BCL presented their historic 11-point program. On January 5, the Central Students' Struggle Council (Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad) presented their 11-point demand, which included all the six points of Sheikh Mujib.

The six points are noted as being:

The Constitution should provide for a Federation of Pakistan in its true sense based on the Lahore Resolution, and the parliamentary form of government with supremacy of a Legislature directly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise.

The federal government should deal with only two subjects: Defence and Foreign Affairs, and all other residual subjects should be vested in the federating states.

Two separates, but freely convertible currencies for the two wings should be introduced; or if this is not feasible, there should be one currency for the whole country, but effective constitutional provisions should be introduced to stop the flight of capital from East to West Pakistan. Furthermore, a separate Banking Reserve should be established and separate fiscal and monetary policy be adopted for East Pakistan.

The power of taxation and revenue collection should be vested in the federating units and the federal centre would have no such power. The federation would be entitled to a share in the state taxes to meet its expenditures.

There should be two separate accounts for the foreign exchange earnings of the two wings; the foreign exchange requirements of the federal government should be met by the two wings equally or in a ratio to be fixed; indigenous products should move free of duty between the two wings, and the constitution should empower the units to establish trade links with foreign countries.

East Pakistan should have a separate military or paramilitary force, and Navy headquarters should be in East Pakistan.

The mass uprising intensified in January 1969. The student society of Dhaka University under the leadership of Chhatra League has basically acted as the central force of this movement. The student movement was led by BCL leaders Sirajul Alam Khan, Abdur Razzak, KaziAref Ahmed, Abdur Rauf, Khaled Mohammad Ali, Jahangir Hossain, Tofail Ahmed, ASM Abdur Rob, Noor-e- Alam Siddiqui, Shahjahan Siraj, Samsuddoha, Mostafa Jamal Haider, Setara Hossain and Forkan Begum and many more.  People of different professions of that time joined the movement with the students. The intensity of this movement can be understood by looking at the list of sacrifices of the students and people who were in the movement at that time.

The 11-point movement was formed with the more enthusiastic and direct participation of the students in the current of 6-point movement. Their fearless courage and conviction ensured the downfall of Ayub Khan, the famous Iron Man, under the tremendous pressure of the mass movement of '69. Student leaders Abdur Rauf, Khaled Mohammad Ali and Tofail Ahmed were at the forefront of the movement. The monopoly of Chhatra League in student politics of that time started from here.Later, as the 4 major leaders namely Noor-e-Alma Siddiqui, ASM Rab, Shajahan Siraj and Abdul QuddusMakhon  ofSwadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad or  commonly known as the 4 khalifas,  who became involved in politics as a shining symbol of the movement.

In the analysis of all the movements in this country, it appears like the immaculate sunrise of the desert that Chhatra League is the pioneer, inventor and charioteer of all the movements. They not only gave impetus to Bangabandhu in the movement, but also played a major role in all his advancements as the main force. In the inviolable judgment of history, Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib and Chhatra League have been substituted for each other.

The new generation should know that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the embodiment of our long independence movement, and his fine craftsman was Chhatra League. Just as all the stars of the night are hidden in the depths of daylight, so the spirit of independence was hidden in the mind of Chhatra League. Some living legends ofSwadhin Bangla KendriyaChhatra Sangram Parishad has expressed theirdisenchantment and disbelieve like this "When the name of Chhatra League or Swadhin Bangla KendriyaChhatra Sangram Parishad is not mentioned during the celebration of the golden jubilee of 50 years of independence, their heart twists and turns and weeps". I also express my disenchantment of this incident.

All the political activities of Chhatra League should be brought up intensively not to belittle Bangabandhu but to make his working life shine with the artist. I believe history speaks for itself one day. I heard Bangabandhu's unmistakable utterance, 'History of Chhatra League - History of Bengal's Independence'.I would like to express the resonance of my heart from the source of these words of Bangabandhu. Comparing Bangabandhu with a banyan tree, Chhatra League is rooted in his soil. Comparing him with the vast sea, his exuberant diamond garland is Chhatra League. Sheikh Mujib is Bangladesh, Bangladesh is Mujib - if any poet addresses Sheikh Mujib in this verse, the pure smell of loamy soil will come out from the whole body of his existence. It would seem that the green-beautiful picture of whole Bangladesh is woven in its shape. Chhatra League is their skillful artist and artistic thinking.

Any desire to erase the position of those who were comrades and comrades in the great path of Bangabandhu's movement will diminish him, will tarnish the sunrise glory of the independence movement. If we want to highlight the political success of Bangabandhu, we have to highlight the huge work of Chhatra League. History is not properly analyzed and narrated by bypassing Chhatra League, the artisan of the implementation of the consciousness that Bangabandhu is the embodiment of that consciousness.

Today, on this auspicious occasion of the founding anniversary of the Chhatra League, the history of the ChhatraLeague says that the BCL has never been stingy in giving blood for the needs of Bengali mothers and soil. Today, the historical brilliance of the dedicated cadres is very weak today. As a secular organization, the present members of the BCL are no longer abiding by the constitution, but the BCL still exists and will remain.

Those of us who were members of the largest isolated student political family in the subcontinent, ail we want is good organization of our identity, good luck Chhatra League. May our love be good. Happy Birthday Chhatra League; Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.


Omer Sher is a retired Professor of Economics at Algonquin College,Ottawa, Canada, and a researcher onSouth Asia politics.