As the events of the last few days exemplify, the government has finally come down hard on the criminal elements of the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League. The prevailing feeling of impunity among a section of Chhatra League and Juba League activists and leaders have been dealt a blow and the initial reaction of the common people is positive. They just hope that the blow is a decisive one and the campaign against these criminals is sustained with the same vigour with which it has started. The concerned bodies must show relentless determination to bring a halt to BCL tyranny that has been wreaking havoc as much on higher education as people's confidence in the credibility of the ruling party and the government.
Unfortunately, particularly after the Awami League- led alliance’s landslide victory in the last general elections, many activists of BCL (and also Juba League) have shown an utter disrespect for rule of law and even human values. A large section of the student community is being held hostages by the hooligans of BCL. It is hardly a secret that the internecine
brawls that have been taking place at regular intervals among the various factions of BCL had no
noteworthy cause. Groups of unruly students, fought over taking control of the organisational hierarchy, including business tenders, hostel seats, admission of new students and so on.
Through their nefarious activities not only was BCL isolating itself from the people in general but the image of its parent organisation was also being harmed. The current government’s many creditable achievements have been besmirched by the activities of some personnel of Awami League’s student and youth bodies. Many of these activists have joined the party only recently in an apparent bid to reap the windfall of Awami League’s victory. Now everything must be done to resist terror and extortion in the name of student politics. The authorities must crackdown hard on campus violence, extortion, tender rigging by student leaders, members or activists, or anyone perpetrating such acts in the guise of students. The role of a bystander that the police played so far should transform now into energetic action against the hoodlums.
There is no excuse for criminality by BCL or any other student or political group for that matter. The impunity with which a small number of criminals can dominate BCL and instigate violent actions must be ended. BCL has been given too many free passes already. The relevant authorities and law enforcers must take strong action to bring culprits before the law and root out criminality once and for all.