Chaos on campus

The recent unrest on university campuses caused by the ruling party's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists has a pattern to it which is worrying. In only the last two days, they beat up a student at Buet, ultimately leading to a campus shutdown; created chaos at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST); and assaulted police personnel at Rajshahi University. The first case arose from a "scuffle" between senior and junior students which later evolved into a physical altercation leaving one of the student's hand broken. The second incident occurred at a reception where BCL members presented a memorandum to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman against the current apparently "corrupt" administration. The third was allegedly provoked by derogatory remarks made against the Prime Minister by police personnel which led to one policeman being made to do sit ups holding his ears in public and physical injuries. The motives may have varied but the perpetrators were of the same wider group, though, as is the norm, in at least one of the cases, the BCL's official position was that the culprits are not associated with the organisation.
BCL has made scores of headlines in the last three years for its unlawful activities, from tender-snatching to outright violence. Yet we have seen little in terms of action to rein in the unruly elements of the ruling party. True, the party itself claims to be dissociated from the student wing, but the fact that the latter seems to be getting away with its illicit activities raises questions as to from where it derives its power.
We are deeply concerned about the suspension and disruption of activities at academic institutions in the country and call upon the authorities to nip the problem in the bud before it takes even more magnified proportions. Each incident must be investigated and the perpetrators appropriately punished. They must be made to understand that, no matter who they are or what influence they may have, their wrongdoings will not be tolerated.