Move to form BCL school bodies worrying
Abu Jakir
The nations eminent citizens, educationists, political analysts, teachers and guardians have expressed deep concern over introduction of student politics at the school level. They observed that this decision might destroy the secondary level education system and spread violence and anarchy at the grassroots level.
They strongly criticised the decision of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student front of the Awami League, saying that the current state of student politics in the country is not good.
Student leaders are engaged in clashes over grabbing tenders, money making and establishing supremacy on the campus. Under the circumstances, if student politics is introduced at the school level, the nation will have to pay a heavy price, they warned.
On November 21, the central Chhatra League decided to form committees at all secondary schools across the country as part of its greater goal to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. At the meeting, BCL president Saifur Rahman Shohag and general secretary SM Jakir Hossain asked organisation leaders
to form school-level committees to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu among schoolgoers to fight militancy in the country.
When contacted, BCL general secretary Jakir Hossain said the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has been trying to spread militancy among the schoolgoers for years.
In a bid to counter them, the Chhatra League will form committees at every school across the country.
Talking to this correspondent, eminent columnist, journalist and writer, Syed Abul Maksud, told The Independent that the ruling partys student wing has taken a bad decision.
Its dangerous to introduce student politics at the school level. I dont know whether government leaders have become mad. Its a suicidal decision. If the high-ups of the Awami League dont stop it, the education system will be destroyed, he said.
Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam, professor of the English department at the University of Dhaka, said the BCLs decision is not acceptable and will be destructive for the education system.
School students taking part in politics will destroy the education system. It will also damage other educational structures, he added.
He also suggested that students under 18 should not be involved in politics.
Syed Manzoorul Islam, also an academic, writer, novelist, translator, columnist, and critic, sought the Prime Ministers intervention to save the education system and students from becoming politicised.
Abhijeet Das, a secondary school teacher, strongly condemned the BCL decision to introduce student politics at the school level. I dont know how the BCL has taken such a suicidal decision. Definitely it will hamper our education system, he said.
Alaudding Ahmed, a guardian hailing from Dhaka, told this correspondent that student leaders are widely known for their unruly behaviour and crimes.
He said now school students will engage in politics and commit crimes under the banner of student leaders. Our education system will be definitely destroyed if student organisations introduce politics at the secondary level, he added.
However, AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said school students involvement in politics is not good, as this period is crucial for teenagers to build their educational career.
But the present initiative of the BCL to spread the ideology of the Father of the Nation is very positive, he added.
However, Saifuzzaman Shakon, former president of the Socialist Student Front (SSF), said school students involvement in politics is not bad at all.
But the problem is, ethics and norms are absent in our politics. Now student politics has become quite violent. If school students join politics, they will engage in violence, tender grabbing and money makingjust like student leaders are doing now. Thats the problem, he added.
