After a delay of 14 months, the Bangladesh Chhatra League committee at Dhaka University (DU) has finally been unveiled, comprising a 279-member full-fledged team. However, the announcement has been met with controversy due to the inclusion of certain contentious individuals within the committee.

Last year, on December 20, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader revealed the partial committees of DU, including the central committee, from Ganabhaban. Mazharul Kabir Shayon and Tanvir Hasan Saikat were elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the wing.

Criticism ensued post the committee's unveiling, particularly regarding the involvement of individuals accused of various transgressions. Notably, Aktarul Karim Rubel, previously expelled from Chhatra League for assault and extortion, has been reinstated as the vice-president of the new committee. Similar concerns arose over the appointment of Nur Uddin Ahmed, arrested for mugging, as another vice president.

Furthermore, Shahnewaz Babu and Shahriad Shahid Shuvo face allegations of assaulting fellow students and opposition activists. Despite these accusations, Babu has been appointed organizing secretary, and Shuvo, deputy liberation war and research secretary.

Similar controversies surround other appointees, including allegations of extortion, assault, and misconduct. However, Chhatra League sources say charges have not been proven against any of the leaders who were appointed.

Aktarul Karim Rubel, the self-proclaimed king of Suhrawardy Udyan, was expelled from Chhatra League on July 28, 2021, for beating hall students and extortion. The expulsion order against him was lifted on Wednesday to appoint him to the newly formed DU Chhatra League committee.

Nur Uddin Ahmed, arrested by the Shahbagh police on charges of mugging, returned to active politics recently after a few months in jail.

Shahnewaz Babu and Shahriad Shahid Shuvo are accused of beating Bin Yamin Mollah and other leaders and activists of the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad at TSC during the celebration of the founding anniversary of the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad on February 17, 2023. Shahnawaz Babu is also accused of beating a student of Bijoy Ekattor Hall on suspicion of being a Shibir member.

Belayet Hossain Rocky, appointed joint general secretary in the newly formed committee, is accused of extortion at a shop on Dhaka Medical Road on August 6 of last year. He was accused of picking up a shop employee at Suhrawardy Udyan, beating him, threatening him, and demanding ransom.

Sifat Ahmed, deputy secretary of library and publication affairs of the Sir AF Rahman Hall unit, has been accused of not paying a bill after eating food worth Tk14,000 at the Kabir Hotel in Shahbagh on May 6 of last year. He got the post of social service secretary on the committee.

Farzana Parvin is accused of beating Ayesha Siddika Rupa, vice president of the DU Rokeya Hall unit, in room number 1121 of the hall on July 14, 2023. She is currently the vice president of the committee.

In January 2023, Yusuf Tuhin came to the centre of attention by beating a student overnight. His name has been announced as the program and planning secretary for the current committee.

On February 9 of last year, an audio clip of Tanvir Hossain Shanto demanding extortion from a mobile shop owner in front of Dhaka Medical College was leaked. Besides, there are allegations against him of disobeying the vice chancellor's instructions to secure the post of Dhaka University Debating Society. He has been appointed drama and debate secretary in the newly announced committee.

Agriculture Education Secretary Emdadul Haque Badhon was accused of beating students at Bangabandhu Hall of DU on March 10, 2022.

School Students Affairs Secretary Shibli Sadiq came into the limelight by assaulting a journalist and beating students at Bangabandhu Hall of DU.

In September of last year, Chhatra League leaders and activists of the Sir Salimullah Medical College unit were harassed by Mehedi Hasan Nibir and Sayem Shahriar Nirob when they came to the DU campus to lay wreaths for the central president, Saddam Hussain.

Susmoy Das is accused of beating up a student named Niloy Kumar Biswas at Jagannath Hall in 2019 over a trivial incident. He has been appointed as the organizing secretary of the current committee.

DU Chhatra League President Mazharul Kabir Shayon said: "We have not appointed any convicted politicians. There are only allegations against some of those whom I have appointed, though they were not found guilty in the legal procedure. We've kept them under inspection for a long time. We have not deprived anyone of the post solely on the basis of allegations. Those involved in Chhatra League politics for a long time and who played a role in winning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the 12th national election have been selected and appointed.”

Chhatra League Central President Saddam Hossain said that if there are specific allegations against anyone, action will be taken based on evidence.