Reining in troublemakers

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) students are staying away from classes, demanding justice in an incident that took place on October 27. According to a report of this newspaper on Friday, five BUET students were injured allegedly by students of the Zahurul Hoque Hall of Dhaka University (DU). Sources claimed that drug trafficking was the real reason behind the clash. Clashes and factional feuds left scores of students dead and many more injured at different educational institutions of the country over the past few years.  

Student politics should be limited to on-campus issues

. It is unfortunate to note that a section of student leaders and activists have been deviated from the politics aimed at welfare of the country. In the past, student politics was mostly aimed at welfare of the country. Since the historic Language Movement in 1952, students played glorious roles in various democratic movements of the country, including the Liberation War in 1971. Those earned the respect and confidence of the people of the country. But gone are those days. Student politics these days strike panic among the peace-loving people. Students now work as agents or lackeys of various political parties. They act according to the dictates of their political masters. Terrorism, vandalism, extortion, killing intimidation, abduction for ransom  and ‘admission business’ have become rampant among various groups of students. In fact, student politics has become vitiated. There are politicians who use some leaders and workers of the front organization to serve their own purpose. The overall interest of the country takes a back seat.

     What is shocking is that even a section of university teachers are resorting to acts of violence. Petty political interests have forced them to indulge in such activities. The recent incident at the TSC of Dhaka University amply testifies to that. Successive governments of the country were toying with the idea of banning student politics once and for all to get rid of campus violence but no government could take any bold stand in this regard. The people of the country want peace. They do not want the hands of their wards to be stained with blood.  Hence, regulation of student politics if not banning it has become imperative.

   Students may have various problems and demands. For addressing those  campus-based students organizations can be allowed to grow but those must be kept away from the mainstream national politics. Unbridled student politics must be reined in for shunning blood-letting violence. The government and the opposition political parties should reach consensus in this regard. It is the right time for overhauling the entire system in the interest of the people of the country.           

 

Reining in troublemakers

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) students are staying away from classes, demanding justice in an incident that took place on October 27. According to a report of this newspaper on Friday, five BUET students were injured allegedly by students of the Zahurul Hoque Hall of Dhaka University (DU). Sources claimed that drug trafficking was the real reason behind the clash. Clashes and factional feuds left scores of students dead and many more injured at different educational institutions of the country over the past few years. Student politics should be limited to on-campus issues . It is unfortunate to note that a section of student leaders and activists have been deviated from the politics aimed at welfare of the country. In the past, student politics was mostly aimed at welfare of the country. Since the historic Language Movement in 1952, students played glorious roles in various democratic movements of the country, including the Liberation War in 1971. Those earned the respect and confidence of the people of the country. But gone are those days. Student politics these days strike panic among the peace-loving people. Students now work as agents or lackeys of various political parties. They act according to the dictates of their political masters. Terrorism, vandalism, extortion, killing intimidation, abduction for ransom and admission business have become rampant among various groups of students. In fact, student politics has become vitiated. There are politicians who use some leaders and workers of the front organization to serve their own purpose. The overall interest of the country takes a back seat. What is shocking is that even a section of university teachers are resorting to acts of violence. Petty political interests have forced them to indulge in such activities. The recent incident at the TSC of Dhaka University amply testifies to that. Successive governments of the country were toying with the idea of banning student politics once and for all to get rid of campus violence but no government could take any bold stand in this regard. The people of the country want peace. They do not want the hands of their wards to be stained with blood. Hence, regulation of student politics if not banning it has become imperative. Students may have various problems and demands. For addressing those campus-based students organizations can be allowed to grow but those must be kept away from the mainstream national politics. Unbridled student politics must be reined in for shunning blood-letting violence. The government and the opposition political parties should reach consensus in this regard. It is the right time for overhauling the entire system in the interest of the people of the country.