Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Thursday said the government has banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as a terrorist organisation but it has no decision to ban the ousted Awami League or any other entity.
“There is also no initiative to confiscate the assets of the banned organisations for now,” he told a press briefing at Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, responding to a question.
Rizwana said the country’s people have seen how the Chhatra League carried out terrorist acts to suppress all types of student movements.
Even after the August 5, they were involved in terrorist acts from different places, she said adding that the government had to take this decision of banning the BCL based on specific information from intelligence agencies to curb their terrorist acts.
Another big reason for banning the BCL was that they carried out brutal attacks during the anti-discrimination student movement and they are still carrying out terrorist activities, the adviser said.
She said there can be no reason to sit idly after seeing the terrorist acts of an organisation. Since the government has been given the power to combat terrorism, it has banned the Chhatra League, she added.
Replying to another query over Indian visa, Rizwana said there is no such situation in Bangladesh now that any country can impose visa restrictions for Bangladeshis.
Speaking at the briefing, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam said the BCL was banned giving priority to public security and sovereignty of Bangladesh. However, he said, political consensus is needed regarding the banning of the Awami League.
He said that those found guilty in BCL will definitely be brought to justice.
Stating that as a banned organisation, news of the Chhatra League should not be published in media, Mahfuj urged the journalists not to broadcast or publish any news of the BCL.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was present at the press briefing.
