Ever since formation of new committees early this year, the DU residential halls have become hotbeds of political infighting within the JCD leading to at least 10 internecine clashes on the campus, sources said.

Zahurul Haque Hall, Sir AF Rahman Hall, Mohsin Hall, Surya Sen Hall, Ziaur Rahman Hall and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall are most disreputable among residential halls where such infighting is prevalent.

The situation has forced party authorities to expel as many as 53 members this year for anti-party activities in an effort to ward off organisational disorder. But their continued preoccupation with resolving intra-party strife has stalled normal political activities of the beleaguered student body.

The JCD leadership, grappling to reconcile the feuding factions, has since reinstated some expelled party members, but 32 workers and leaders still remain expelled till date.

Among the 32 are JCD DU unit Senior Vice-president Golam Hafiz Nahin and Salimullah Hall Joint Secretary Daneshul Islam Danesh, who were expelled for beating up fellow JCD leaders.

Six JCD activists of Zahurul Haque Hall were expelled recently for beating up a JCD leader of Ziaur Rahman Hall, who later filed a case in connection with the incident.

Four JCD leaders and activists of Ziaur Rahman Hall unit, three of Fazlul Haque Hall unit, two of Salimullah Hall unit, three of Mohsin Hall unit and one of Shahidullah Hall unit were expelled in the past few months for their involvement in anti-party activities.

Poly Majumder, joint secretary of Shamsunnahar Hall unit, was also expelled for similar reasons while three activists of Zahurul Haque Hall unit were expelled over a clash between the hall unit president and general secretary. Two other JCD activists including a hall unit leader were expelled after they beat up a fellow worker in front of the JCD General Secretary Azizul Bari Helal inside the Madhus Canteen.

Helal told The Daily Star the expulsions were necessary to rid the party of the bad image earned by trouble-mongers. He denied there are factions within the JCD but admitted that the problem lies in the competition for leadership at the low level, adding that the hall authorities need more capability to control residents.

JCD President Shahabuddin Laltu said some scattered incidents occurred within the party because it is a large organisation. "But we will take action to uphold discipline and chain of command in the JCD," he added.

Meanwhile, most of the 81 members of the DU unit committee leaders have distanced themselves from organisational activities and are busy pursuing personal agenda including jobs.

Many were frustrated because they were not given appropriate positions in either the DU unit committee or hall unit committees. "We didn't get anything from the JCD although we made immense contribution to the party," said a DU leader requesting anonymity.

He said many leaders have obtained party 'affiliation certificates' from the JCD DU unit to get a good job.