Special Correspondent: The possible new leadership of the Dhaka City South unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal has once again become a talking point in the capital’s political circles. With the unit operating without a full committee for a long time, expectations have been building within the organization. Party sources say the central leadership is now focusing on evaluating activists who are active on the ground, have made sacrifices, and are organizationally capable. In these discussions, two names are being mentioned most frequently: Faisal Ahmed Sajal for president and Sheikh Khalid Hasan Jackie for general secretary.

According to party activists, both leaders have earned credibility at the grassroots level through their active roles in student politics and in various BNP movements and struggles. Their consistent presence in anti-government protests, blockades, rallies, and political programs has given them recognition as “clean-image organizers.”

Faisal Ahmed Sajal rose through the ranks of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal. He began his political journey as convener of the Economics Department unit, holding hall status, and later served as a member under the Tipu-Sattar committee, assistant secretary under the Sattar-Parvez committee, assistant general secretary under the Parvez-Khokhon committee, and joint convener under the Shahin-Khalil committee. During his tenure as president of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, he was repeatedly targeted by Chhatra League for refusing to leave campus. He did not vacate the campus for as long as he held the post.

Sajal faces 32 political cases filed across six police stations in Dhaka metropolis. He has been imprisoned four times and spent over 16 months in jail. He was also subjected to torture during 16 days of remand. Most recently, ahead of the January 5, 2024 election, he was sentenced to two years in prison in two cases by a Speedy Trial Tribunal.

Due to his organizational skills, close communication with activists, and long political experience, he later became president of Jagannath University Chhatra Dal. After leading at the university level, Sajal rose to important positions in central student politics, serving as joint secretary and vice president of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal central committee.

BNP central leaders also regard him as a dependable organizer for his active presence on the ground during difficult phases of the party’s movements and for maintaining organizational communication. His active participation in BNP programs in the capital has sent a positive signal to grassroots workers.

Sheikh Khalid Hasan Jackie, meanwhile, has long been a known figure in Dhaka’s student politics. He served as former convener of Dhaka Metropolitan East Chhatra Dal and former president of Dhanmondi Thana Chhatra Dal. To party activists, he is known as a street-based organizer who did not leave the field even during the toughest phases of the movement.

Jackie has faced arrest and multiple cases for his active role in anti-government movements. He is an accused in 86 political cases filed across eight police stations in Dhaka metropolis. He has been imprisoned five times and spent over eight months in jail, and was subjected to torture during 27 days of remand. In 2021, Chhatra Dal held protest programs demanding the withdrawal of a case filed against him.

On July 2, 2023, he was arrested from the Dhanmondi area of the capital, an incident that drew wide attention in political circles. Chhatra Dal alleged he was arrested for his active role in the anti-government movement.

Beyond organizational responsibilities, Jackie has been a visible presence in field protests. He was regularly seen leading blockades, torch processions, and demonstrations. In November 2023, he led a torch procession in Khilgaon in support of the nationwide blockade program. He was also active in the movement against what the party terms the “fascist government.”

Political analysts say BNP’s high command has particular trust in leaders who have risen through years of student politics and remained consistently active in movements and struggles. With organizational strength and field-based leadership being prioritized for the political realities ahead, expectations have grown among Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal activists around a potential Sajal-Jackie committee.

Grassroots leaders believe that if such a committee is formed, thana, ward, and unit committees will be able to function actively, and there will be an opportunity to complete long-pending committees at the thana and ward levels.

According to field-level activists, “sacrificing leaders with a clean image” is now the demand of the time. In that context, a new equation is forming in South Jubo Dal politics around these two leaders who came up through student politics. If all goes well, there is strong speculation that the committee will be announced before Eid.