Published on 12:00 AM, September 02, 2015

Editorial

Weed out the bad elements, says the PM

Leaders should follow her directive

The Prime Minister has recently given a clear directive to her party leaders to 'weed out' the bad elements of the party as they contradict the ideals upon which the party was founded. In the wake of the disturbing trend of unlawfulness among some of the Chhatra League members and abuse of power by some ruling party members, the cautionary briefing could not have come at a better time. 

Only a few days ago Chhatra League students violently swooped on teachers at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology for their participation in a demonstration thus violating a basic code of conduct that defines student-teacher relations. Reports of student activists allegedly sexually harassing women, being involved in extortion and violence on campus have become commonplace. The main reason for such blatant defiance of the rule of law is the impunity and indulgence these errant members enjoy from their parent body and the law enforcing agencies. It is high time that the party carried out extensive probes to identify the unruly elements and take action against them. In the case of party members being involved in criminal activity, legal action must be taken. Thankfully in recent times some such action appears to have been taken, a trend we hope will continue.

It is now incumbent upon the leaders of the party to follow their party chief's directive and cleanse their organisation of such unwholesome elements that are tainting the image of the party.