‘Guilty’ students will be punished: Nahid

Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday (Wednesday) asserted that law will take its own course against private university students involved in clashes and spreading rumours to destabilise the country.

He added in the same breath that his ministry would see to it that innocent students are not harassed by law enforcers.

“Who are we to pardon the students for their offence? If any student goes to the movement purposively and is involved in crimes, law will see the matter. We would want that innocent students and teachers do not face any harassment. But if anyone is proven guilty, law will see it,” he said.

While speaking as chief guest at an emergency views-exchange meeting with vice-chancellors (VCs) of private universities at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital, Nahid said this in reply to the suggestions of many VCs to pardon the students of the private universities for their involvement in violence on August 6.

The meeting was organised jointly by the education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC), considering the current situation in the country. UGC chairman Prof Abdul Mannan president over the meeting, while secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Md Sohorab Hossain, was present as special guest.

Violence erupted on August 6 between students of some private universities, such as North South University (NSU), East West University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, BRAC University and Independent University, and law enforcers on the streets, following the students’ movement demanding safe roads. The students also protested against attacks on them by law enforcers and a group of youths.

Nahid said: “The students came to the streets with the just demand for safe roads following an accident in the capital. We support their cause. Their movement ended on August 5 as the government had accepted their demand. But a different chapter was opened on August 6 by private university students. A quarter used the students on the  day to unleash violence.”

“We will stand beside innocent students who have been misguided by a quarter. Even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not express any grievance against the general students. But those who spread rumours and created anarchy to destabilise the country will not be spared by the law,” he added.  

The minister said each and every private university has to be more careful in future so that students refrain from such violence.

He suggested that the vice-chancellors will lead the teachers who will work as a team to motivate the students to bring them back to the classes and exams as well as to involve them in extra-curriculum activities during such crisis.

He also said members of the Trustee Board of a private university will assist the university in this regard to avert violence.

The minister also thanked the authorities of private universities who tactfully handled the situation and did not allow their students to come out on the streets for violence. But some universities could not manage it and violence erupted on the streets, he added.

Nahid said the government does not make any difference between private and public universities. The purpose of the universities is to ensure quality education.

The minister said some private universities are not following rules and regulations. There will be no other way but to take action against such universities.

“Those who are running the private universities are not owners—they are entrepreneurs. Here is no scope for business in the private universities. Do business at other places, but not in universities. It is not a place for dealing in jute business. There will be no business in education,” he said.

“We respect those who have opened opportunities for education. People will remember them,” he added.

He said: “We are really concerned when the students are involved in violence. During the clash on August 6, some universities were damaged. We have to be careful.”

The minister also said a new contact number or a cellphone would be introduced in the ministry for rapid communication to tackle such issues in future.

Most of the vice-chancellors said they handled the situation properly by using the proctorial body, including teachers, to motivate the students not to get involved in violence.

Vice-chancellor of World University, Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, said they did not close the activities of their universities during the students’ movement, as they took various initiatives to motivate the students that there is no need for such a

movement as the situation is now over.

“I would request the government not to take hard action against the students who were motivated to get involved in the movement. They are our children. Announce a general amnesty for them. But those who are conspirators should be brought to justice,” he added.

Vice-chancellor of ASA University said: “If we want to keep the students calm during such times, we have to use the teachers to motivate the students.”

NSU Trustee Board member Benajir Ahmed said: “If we work together, all problems can be addressed. A quarter will always be there for creating anarchy. But we can address it with the association of the administration.”

NSU vice-chancellor Atiqul Islam said: “Our university activities were not closed. I would not say the NSU was attacked on August 6. A clash took place outside the university and many took shelter inside our campus. We gave first aid to the injured students. We spoke to law enforcers for safe passage of the stranded students and we got it.”

“When I asked the students why they are staging a movement, they could not give a satisfactory reply,” he added. The VC of Prime Asia, Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, said: “I request the government to release the students arrested.”

President of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), Sheikh Kabir Hossain, said: “The matter is complex. It will give us direction how to tackle such a situation in future. During the movement, we mailed all the VCs how to handle the situation. The role of VCs is important here. You can involve the trustee board members here to work together.”

Md Sohorab Hossain said: “We don’t want our students to face any trouble. We don’t want our educational institutions to be closed for a single day. During the movement, there were rumours which caused huge losses. We have to be aware of it.”

 

Guilty students will be punished: Nahid

Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday (Wednesday) asserted that law will take its own course against private university students involved in clashes and spreading rumours to destabilise the country. He added in the same breath that his ministry would see to it that innocent students are not harassed by law enforcers. Who are we to pardon the students for their offence? If any student goes to the movement purposively and is involved in crimes, law will see the matter. We would want that innocent students and teachers do not face any harassment. But if anyone is proven guilty, law will see it, he said. While speaking as chief guest at an emergency views-exchange meeting with vice-chancellors (VCs) of private universities at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital, Nahid said this in reply to the suggestions of many VCs to pardon the students of the private universities for their involvement in violence on August 6. The meeting was organised jointly by the education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC), considering the current situation in the country. UGC chairman Prof Abdul Mannan president over the meeting, while secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Md Sohorab Hossain, was present as special guest. Violence erupted on August 6 between students of some private universities, such as North South University (NSU), East West University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, BRAC University and Independent University, and law enforcers on the streets, following the students movement demanding safe roads. The students also protested against attacks on them by law enforcers and a group of youths. Nahid said: The students came to the streets with the just demand for safe roads following an accident in the capital. We support their cause. Their movement ended on August 5 as the government had accepted their demand. But a different chapter was opened on August 6 by private university students. A quarter used the students on the day to unleash violence. We will stand beside innocent students who have been misguided by a quarter. Even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not express any grievance against the general students. But those who spread rumours and created anarchy to destabilise the country will not be spared by the law, he added. The minister said each and every private university has to be more careful in future so that students refrain from such violence. He suggested that the vice-chancellors will lead the teachers who will work as a team to motivate the students to bring them back to the classes and exams as well as to involve them in extra-curriculum activities during such crisis. He also said members of the Trustee Board of a private university will assist the university in this regard to avert violence. The minister also thanked the authorities of private universities who tactfully handled the situation and did not allow their students to come out on the streets for violence. But some universities could not manage it and violence erupted on the streets, he added. Nahid said the government does not make any difference between private and public universities. The purpose of the universities is to ensure quality education. The minister said some private universities are not following rules and regulations. There will be no other way but to take action against such universities. Those who are running the private universities are not ownersthey are entrepreneurs. Here is no scope for business in the private universities. Do business at other places, but not in universities. It is not a place for dealing in jute business. There will be no business in education, he said. We respect those who have opened opportunities for education. People will remember them, he added. He said: We are really concerned when the students are involved in violence. During the clash on August 6, some universities were damaged. We have to be careful. The minister also said a new contact number or a cellphone would be introduced in the ministry for rapid communication to tackle such issues in future. Most of the vice-chancellors said they handled the situation properly by using the proctorial body, including teachers, to motivate the students not to get involved in violence. Vice-chancellor of World University, Abdul Mannan Chowdhury, said they did not close the activities of their universities during the students movement, as they took various initiatives to motivate the students that there is no need for such a movement as the situation is now over. I would request the government not to take hard action against the students who were motivated to get involved in the movement. They are our children. Announce a general amnesty for them. But those who are conspirators should be brought to justice, he added. Vice-chancellor of ASA University said: If we want to keep the students calm during such times, we have to use the teachers to motivate the students. NSU Trustee Board member Benajir Ahmed said: If we work together, all problems can be addressed. A quarter will always be there for creating anarchy. But we can address it with the association of the administration. NSU vice-chancellor Atiqul Islam said: Our university activities were not closed. I would not say the NSU was attacked on August 6. A clash took place outside the university and many took shelter inside our campus. We gave first aid to the injured students. We spoke to law enforcers for safe passage of the stranded students and we got it. When I asked the students why they are staging a movement, they could not give a satisfactory reply, he added. The VC of Prime Asia, Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, said: I request the government to release the students arrested. President of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), Sheikh Kabir Hossain, said: The matter is complex. It will give us direction how to tackle such a situation in future. During the movement, we mailed all the VCs how to handle the situation. The role of VCs is important here. You can involve the trustee board members here to work together. Md Sohorab Hossain said: We dont want our students to face any trouble. We dont want our educational institutions to be closed for a single day. During the movement, there were rumours which caused huge losses. We have to be aware of it.