BCL Resurgence in Lalpur: Clandestine Night Meetings and Processions
Tensions and public outrage have flared in Natore’s Lalpur upazila following allegations that the banned student organization, Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL), held a clandestine night meeting and brought out a secret procession. The incident came to light after photos and a video of the gathering circulated widely on social media, drawing sharp criticism from residents over the administration’s perceived inaction.
According to a viral social media post made on the night of September 12, Natore District BCL President Mr. Farhad Bin Aziz praised the Lalpur Upazila faction from his Facebook profile. His post read, ‘Lalpur Upazila Chhatra League is prepared for the struggle of the leader’s historic homecoming. Thank you for being able to unite and exchange pleasantries with each other even in such bad times’. Several photographs depicting a group of youths at a covert gathering were attached to the message.
In response to the development, activists from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and forces aligned with the July Uprising expressed extreme outrage, declaring that subversive activities by the banned entity will not be tolerated in Lalpur under any circumstances. They strongly demanded the immediate identification of administrative failures alongside the swift arrest and prosecution of all participants involved in the secret meeting. Meanwhile, Lalpur Upazila Jatiyatabadi Chatra League Convener Md. Raihan Kabir Sweet warned on social media that law enforcement agencies will firmly suppress any unlawful activities attempted by the faction.
Addressing the controversy, Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shafiqul Islam stated that no concrete evidence regarding the exact time and location of the incident has been uncovered yet. He added that authorities are currently investigating whether older photographs are being deliberately recirculated on Facebook as recent events to manufacture local tension.
