Special Correspondent :
The possible new leadership of the Dhaka Metropolitan South branch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Jubo Dal has come under renewed discussion in the political arena of the capital. As expectations have been created within the organization due to the lack of a full committee for a long time, the central leadership is also looking at evaluating active, dedicated and organizationally skilled leaders at the field level, according to party sources. And two names are being mentioned the most in this discussion, Faisal Ahmed Sajal as president, Sheikh Khalid Hasan Jackie as general secretary.
According to party leaders and activists, these two leaders have gained acceptance at the grassroots level due to their active role in various movements and struggles of BNP, starting from student politics to the streets. Especially their continuous presence in anti-government movements, blockades, processions and political programs has made them known as “organizers of clean image”.
Faisal Ahmed Sajal is a proven organizer who originally emerged from the politics of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal. Since the beginning of his student life, he has served in various important positions in the organization. Starting his political journey as the convener of the Economics Department (Hall Marida), he later served as a member of the Tipu-Sattar Committee, co-editor of the Sattar-Parvez Committee, co-general secretary of the Parvez-Khokon Committee and joint convener of the Shahin-Khalil Committee. While he was the president of Jagannath University, he was harassed by the Chhatra League many times for not leaving the campus. Yet, he did not leave the campus as long as he was in charge. Sajal was accused of 32 politically false cases in 6 police stations in Dhaka city. So far, he has been imprisoned 4 times and has been in prison for more than 16 months. He was also subjected to torture in the name of remand for 16 days. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2 cases by a speedy trial tribunal just before the January 5, 2024 elections.
Due to his organizational skills, close contact with workers, and long political experience, he later became the president of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal. After active leadership at the university level, Sajal also rose to an important position in central student politics. He served as joint secretary and vice-president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal Central Parliament Committee.
He is also known as a reliable organizer to the central leaders due to his active presence in the field and maintaining organizational contact during the difficult times of BNP’s movement and struggle. His active participation in various BNP programs, especially in the capital, has created a positive message at the grassroots level.
On the other hand, Sheikh Khalid Hasan Jacky has been a known name in Dhaka’s student politics for a long time. He has served as the former convener of Dhaka Metropolitan East Chhatra Dal and the former president of Dhanmondi Thana Chhatra Dal. He is known to party leaders and activists as a street-centric organizer who did not leave the field even during the difficult times of the movement.
BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists said that Jackie had to be arrested and faced cases several times due to his active role in the anti-government movement. Jackie is accused of 86 politically motivated cases in 8 police stations in Dhaka city. So far, he has been imprisoned 5 times and has been in prison for more than 8 months. He was tortured for 27 days in the name of remand.
Chhatra Dal also held a protest program demanding the withdrawal of the case filed against him in 2021.
Later, on July 2, 2023, he was arrested from the Dhanmondi area of the capital, which sparked widespread discussion in the political arena. Chhatra Dal alleged that he was arrested because of his active role in the anti-government movement.
Jackie’s strong presence in the field movement was noticeable not only in organizational responsibilities, but also in the field movement. He was seen regularly leading blockades, torch processions and protest programs. In November 2023, a torch procession was held in Khilgaon area in support of the nationwide blockade program. He was also active in the anti-fascist government movement.
According to political analysts, the BNP high command has special confidence in leaders who have emerged from student politics for a long time and have been consistently active in the movement and struggle. Especially in the political reality of the coming days, organizationally strong and field-centered leadership is being given importance. In that reality, expectations have also been created among the leaders and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal around Faisal Ahmed Sajal and Sheikh Khalid Hasan Jacky. The leaders and activists already feel that if there is a Sajal-Jacky committee, every police station, ward, and unit committee will be able to actively carry out organizational activities. And there will also be an opportunity to complete the police station and ward committees that have been hanging for a long time.
According to field-level leaders and activists, “leadership with a renegade and clean image” is now the demand of the hour. And with that in mind, a new equation is now being created in the politics of the Southern Youth Party around these two leaders who emerged from student politics. And if all goes well, there are strong rumors that the committee will be announced before Eid.
