They came up with the announcement at a press conference on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
“Chhatra Dal leaders and activists have become upset, angry as the age limit has been fixed for making its new committee allowing only those who passed SSC and equivalent examinations after 2000 to vie for various posts. There’s a deep conspiracy by a syndicate behind it,” said former JCD vice president Iktiar Rahman Kabir.
He further said, “We demand either a Chhatra Dal committee just for six months or a regular one removing the age limit. Chhatra Dal is not willing to accept any decision of a vested quarter. We’ll continue our movement until our demand is met.”
Kabir also called upon BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to accept their demand.
Another ex-JCD vice president, Ajmal Haque Pilot, said, “If 35-year-old people can be included in the JCD committee, what’s the problem to induct the 37-38-year-olds in it?”
Dhaka south city unit JCD president Jahiruddin said they will carry out their movement in a peaceful manner to realise their demand. “We’ll continue our sit-in from Monday.”
Meanwhile, the demonstrating JCD men created obstruction to BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi from entering the party central office.
Rizvi took part in a procession of lawyers in front of the party office demanding Khaleda Zia’s release around 11am.
As he tried to enter the office after the procession, the JCD leaders obstructed him chanting various slogans against him.
At one stage, the senior JCD leaders pacified the protestors and helped Rizvi enter the office.
Chhatra Dal’s central committee was dissolved on June 3 last.
A BNP press release, signed by Rizvi, said a new committee would be formed within the next 45 days based on the opinions of its councillors.
It said candidates planning to vie for various posts will have to be primary members, students of any educational institution in Bangladesh, and must have passed SSC and equivalent examinations after 2000.
The leaders of the dissolved committee demonstrated in front of the BNP office on June 11 and kept its main gate locked for 11 hours demanding the removal of age limit to join its new committee.
Later, they staged demonstrations in front of the BNP office at different times with the same demand.
JCD's last committee was formed on October 14, 2014, with Rajib Ahsan as its president and Akramul Hasan as general secretary.