Student Wing Reclaims Abandoned Party Office

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, an organisation that has been officially banned, have forcibly entered and taken control of the Betagi Upazila office of the Bangladesh Awami League in Barguna, which had remained abandoned since the July mass uprising. The incident has reignited political debate in the locality and drawn mixed reactions from party leaders and law enforcement.

According to local sources, the incident occurred at around 3:00 pm on Monday at the Awami League’s upazila office, located in the Betagi municipal market area. Chhatra League activists broke the padlock securing the premises and entered the building. Once inside, they hung portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, and Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League. Floral garlands were placed on the portraits, and a party signboard was later installed at the main entrance.

A video of the event soon circulated on social media, showing Betagi Upazila Chhatra League’s current general secretary, Sifat Sikder, alongside former general secretary Mostafa Jamal Shamim, breaking the lock and carrying out the activities inside the office. The footage quickly attracted attention, fuelling discussion about the re-emergence of political activity at a site that had long been sealed.

Speaking via WhatsApp, Sifat Sikder claimed that the country had been under the control of “militant forces” for the past 18 months and that party supporters had been unable to operate freely. He stated that Sheikh Hasina had instructed party members to resume visits to key party sites, including Dhanmondi 32 and local offices across the country. Acting on what he described as direct guidance, they proceeded to the Betagi office and reinstated portraits of party leaders and official banners. He also asserted that Chhatra League members had continued organisational activities in Betagi even during politically restrictive periods.

Law enforcement officials, however, appeared unaware of the development. Betagi Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Jewel Islam, told reporters that he had no information regarding the opening of the office or the installation of portraits and banners.

In contrast, Makhsudur Rahman, general secretary of the Betagi Upazila Awami League and former chairman of the upazila parishad, said the Chhatra League had acted after discussions with senior local leaders. He argued that the absence of a democratic government in recent times had prevented party activists from accessing the office. With what he described as the restoration of democratic governance, leaders and supporters felt emboldened to reclaim the premises.

The Betagi Awami League office had been vandalised and locked following the mass uprising on 5 August 2024, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. In the aftermath, many Awami League leaders and activists reportedly went into hiding. Since the conclusion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, however, a number of them have gradually returned to public political activity, signalling a possible shift in the local political landscape.

Key Details at a Glance

The incident underscores the fluid and contested nature of post-uprising politics in Bangladesh, as rival interpretations of legality, authority, and democratic space continue to shape events at the grassroots level.