curbing militancy

Private varsities taking preventive steps

The authorities of private universities have started taking measures to closely monitor students. This follows terrorist attacks on Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital and the Eid congregation at Kishoreganj. In both the incidents, students of renowned private universities were involved.
Meanwhile, the government has called a meeting with officials of private universities’ on July 17 to discuss the militancy issue.
The authorities concerned of private universities feel the matter assumes more seriousness as youths belonging to well-to-do families and studying in renowned educational institutions are getting involved in militant and other subversive activities. This should not be taken lightly. Combined effort of students, teachers, guardians and the government is needed to root out the seeds of terrorism from educational institutions, they say. Some of the militants who went to the country’s noted private universities, such as North South University (NSU) and BRAC University, were involved in the hostage killings at the Gulshan café. One student who was shot in a gunfight with the police at Sholakia in Kishoreganj was also from the NSU.
On Sunday, the NSU authorities decided to
rusticate students who would be absent for one semester. The meeting also decided to expel the final year BBA student, Abir Rahman, who was killed in a gunfight near the Sholakia Eidgah on July 7.
The government on Sunday issued a directive that if any student remains absent for 10 or more days consecutively, the educational institution will have to notify the government.
Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhury, vice-chancellor of Asia Pacific University, said they had decided at a meeting on Sunday if a student is absent for three consecutive days, they will inform the police after contacting the  guardian. “If a student remains absent from classes for three consecutive days, the teacher concerned will inform the admin officer who will try to contact the student. If the student is not found, the officer will contact the guardian. Later, if the student is still not found, the academic adviser will inform law enforcement agencies,” he added.
Prof. AMM Safiullah, vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), said they were waiting for the government order that any student remaining absent for 10 consecutive days has to be reported to law enforcement agencies. “We’re really concerned. We need cooperation of students, teachers and guardians to curb militancy. We’ll sit with the persons concerned to discuss mechanisms to root out militancy. It is difficult for the university alone to keep a watch on students. Guardians too should come forward,” he added.
Prof. Anwar Hossain, vice-chancellor of Southeast University, said following the Gulshan incident they have taken steps to prevent the university from becoming a breeding ground for militant elements. “We’ve held a meeting. We’ve taken steps to bolster teacher-student relations. We’ll also strengthen counselling and motivational activities among students,” he said. He also said that they would closely monitor the students and would comply with the directives of the government in this regard.
Prof. Dalem Chandra Barman, vice-chancellor of ASA University Bangladesh, said, “The matter is serious. The government has issued a directive. We’ll follow it. Besides, we’ll strengthen teacher-student relations.”
He further said that concerted efforts from all quarters are necessary to root out militant elements from educational institutions as well as the country.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of North South University Prof Atiqul Islam yesterday said his university is not the only element for extremism linked to the recent incidents across the country.
“The name of NSU has come up in the recent incidents of killings. But it cannot be the only element for extremism when the name of this university comes,” he said at a press conference on its premises yesterday.
“A student spends 9-12 hours on the campus. The rest of the time, the student passes outside. There are electronic media and the internet. There are scopes to get motivated to join such activities though these media,” he said.
About Hasnat Karim, an ex-teacher of NSU, who was rescued after the Gulshan attack incident and later suspected of terror involvement, the vice chancellor said, “Hasnat Karim took relief from the NSU in August 2012 for family business. There were many allegations against him at that time. The university has no business over what he is doing during the last four to five years.”
About the former student Nibras Islam, he said, “He was a BBA student in the session 2011-12. He completed three semesters. Then, he left for Malaysia. Afterwards he had no relations with the university.”
He, however, said Abir Rahman, involved in the attack in Sholakia of Kishoreganj was a NSU student.
“We cannot deny him. He was our student. We are gathering information on how he went into that path,” he added.
About the list of the irregular students, he said, “The university has just opened. We have sought information from different departments in this regard. We will get a complete list. There are different reasons behind the irregularities of students like family business, illness, financial crisis. However, the authority has decided that no students will be allowed to remain absent in one semester without prior permission from the authorities concerned.”
Meanwhile, the government has called a meeting with private university authorities after information surfaced that many of their students were linked to militancy. The meeting will be held at the Krishibid Institute Auditorium at 10:30pm on July 17. The home minister, education minister and inspector general of police will be present in the meeting to discuss the militant issue with university officials, a home ministry official told The Independent yesterday.

curbing militancy

Private varsities taking preventive steps

The authorities of private universities have started taking measures to closely monitor students. This follows terrorist attacks on Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital and the Eid congregation at Kishoreganj. In both the incidents, students of renowned private universities were involved. Meanwhile, the government has called a meeting with officials of private universities on July 17 to discuss the militancy issue. The authorities concerned of private universities feel the matter assumes more seriousness as youths belonging to well-to-do families and studying in renowned educational institutions are getting involved in militant and other subversive activities. This should not be taken lightly. Combined effort of students, teachers, guardians and the government is needed to root out the seeds of terrorism from educational institutions, they say. Some of the militants who went to the countrys noted private universities, such as North South University (NSU) and BRAC University, were involved in the hostage killings at the Gulshan caf. One student who was shot in a gunfight with the police at Sholakia in Kishoreganj was also from the NSU. On Sunday, the NSU authorities decided to rusticate students who would be absent for one semester. The meeting also decided to expel the final year BBA student, Abir Rahman, who was killed in a gunfight near the Sholakia Eidgah on July 7. The government on Sunday issued a directive that if any student remains absent for 10 or more days consecutively, the educational institution will have to notify the government. Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhury, vice-chancellor of Asia Pacific University, said they had decided at a meeting on Sunday if a student is absent for three consecutive days, they will inform the police after contacting the guardian. If a student remains absent from classes for three consecutive days, the teacher concerned will inform the admin officer who will try to contact the student. If the student is not found, the officer will contact the guardian. Later, if the student is still not found, the academic adviser will inform law enforcement agencies, he added. Prof. AMM Safiullah, vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), said they were waiting for the government order that any student remaining absent for 10 consecutive days has to be reported to law enforcement agencies. Were really concerned. We need cooperation of students, teachers and guardians to curb militancy. Well sit with the persons concerned to discuss mechanisms to root out militancy. It is difficult for the university alone to keep a watch on students. Guardians too should come forward, he added. Prof. Anwar Hossain, vice-chancellor of Southeast University, said following the Gulshan incident they have taken steps to prevent the university from becoming a breeding ground for militant elements. Weve held a meeting. Weve taken steps to bolster teacher-student relations. Well also strengthen counselling and motivational activities among students, he said. He also said that they would closely monitor the students and would comply with the directives of the government in this regard. Prof. Dalem Chandra Barman, vice-chancellor of ASA University Bangladesh, said, The matter is serious. The government has issued a directive. Well follow it. Besides, well strengthen teacher-student relations. He further said that concerted efforts from all quarters are necessary to root out militant elements from educational institutions as well as the country. Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of North South University Prof Atiqul Islam yesterday said his university is not the only element for extremism linked to the recent incidents across the country. The name of NSU has come up in the recent incidents of killings. But it cannot be the only element for extremism when the name of this university comes, he said at a press conference on its premises yesterday. A student spends 9-12 hours on the campus. The rest of the time, the student passes outside. There are electronic media and the internet. There are scopes to get motivated to join such activities though these media, he said. About Hasnat Karim, an ex-teacher of NSU, who was rescued after the Gulshan attack incident and later suspected of terror involvement, the vice chancellor said, Hasnat Karim took relief from the NSU in August 2012 for family business. There were many allegations against him at that time. The university has no business over what he is doing during the last four to five years. About the former student Nibras Islam, he said, He was a BBA student in the session 2011-12. He completed three semesters. Then, he left for Malaysia. Afterwards he had no relations with the university. He, however, said Abir Rahman, involved in the attack in Sholakia of Kishoreganj was a NSU student. We cannot deny him. He was our student. We are gathering information on how he went into that path, he added. About the list of the irregular students, he said, The university has just opened. We have sought information from different departments in this regard. We will get a complete list. There are different reasons behind the irregularities of students like family business, illness, financial crisis. However, the authority has decided that no students will be allowed to remain absent in one semester without prior permission from the authorities concerned. Meanwhile, the government has called a meeting with private university authorities after information surfaced that many of their students were linked to militancy. The meeting will be held at the Krishibid Institute Auditorium at 10:30pm on July 17. The home minister, education minister and inspector general of police will be present in the meeting to discuss the militant issue with university officials, a home ministry official told The Independent yesterday.