Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) (Bangladesh)

Country: Bangladesh
Details of Formation: The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was formed as a students’ political organisation by Sheikh Mujibur Rahmen (First president of independent Bangladesh) in response to West Pakistani attempts of cultural dominance (Wikipedia). The Awami League, to whom the BCL is closely connected, won the election in 1996 and formed the government between June 23, 1996 to July 15, 2001 and then again from January 6, 2009 onwards.
Details of Termination: The BCL was terminated between July 15, 2001 and January 6, 2009 because the Awami League was not part of the government during that time.
Purpose: The Awami League used the BCL to enforce strikes, to gather crowds for demonstrations and to gain ideological dominance at university campuses.
Organisation: The BCL is currently working under the Bangladesh Awami League (Wikipedia).
Weapons and Training: The BCL had knives (Amnesty International 2012) and news sources also report rifles, guns, revolvers, light machine-guns, grenades, home bombs, machetes and other sharp weapons. Members were issued firearms licenses by the ruling Awami League at the end of its term in 2001.
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Treatment of Civilians: The BCL committed violence against other youth groups’ supporters. In at least one occasion it beat and killed a young man, which was denied by the Prime Minister. There are allegations that the BCL might be excluded from investigations for their political link to the ruling party (Amnesty International 2012), although for the murder of the young man 21 individuals were convicted (Wikipedia).
Other Information: The group is also known as Bangladesh Students League (BLS).
References: Amnesty International. 2012. “Bangladesh: Strengthen human rights safeguards to protect against political violence.” AI index: ASA 13/004/2012. 21 December.

Wikipedia. “Bangladesh Chhatra League”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bangladesh_Chhatra_League&oldid=743034455