New spurt in campus violence
While we condole the tragic death of Zubair Ahmed and sympathise with the bereaved family, we can only ponder over the conse-quences of an unbridled rise of criminal groups in different campuses as a result of the total indifference of the administration to such gangsterism proliferating with alleged patronage of the university administration, in some cases.
Reports suggest that the killer group Shamim-Sharif faction of the BCL unit at JU enjoys the blessings of the incumbent vice-chancellor although it was gathered that the JU unit of BCL has been kept suspended since July, 2010. People are not unfamiliar with such violence erupting in the campuses of the universities and colleges in the country, yet the present one in the context of devilishness far exceeds the previous ones.
Jagannath University has been witnessing bloody feuds for the last six months, mostly initiated by the BCL factions, that have left hundreds injured, and with violence still going unabated the number continues to mount. Comilla University, and Shahjalal University have been closed because of conflicts between BCL and Chatra Shibir. The violence that erupted in Buet in the early part of January as a consequence of attack on a student by some activists of Chatra League was brought under control by expelling the guilty students for good.
The spurt of violence in different universities, resulting in the killing of a student in Jahangirnagar and suspension of academic activities in all these universities has sent shivers down the spines of even those inured to such dastardly incidents. Dhaka Medical College (DMC) had to be closed down in April 2009 after factional clashes in BCL that left a BCL student leader dead and several others injured.
Even though the PM, who was the organisational chief of the BCL, had asked the troublemakers to desist from such dastardly acts, they paid no heed. The clashes resulting from sharing of extortion money and tender manipulation caused loss of lives and property and tarnished the image of the government and the Al, the parent organisation of BCL. Having failed to rein in the criminal elements in her own party wing, the PM gave up her position as patron of BCL. But that has not improved the situation.
With accountability totally missing, some misguided students in the name of cadre politics have turned the campuses into battlegrounds. Al leaders' assurances after election victory this time raised hopes that there was a different kind of leadership ready to take on the terrorists and crackdown on the trouble mongers whoever they might be. But has that really happened?
In the backdrop of student groups' involvement in cadre politics, increased violence, tender manipulation and admission business, citizens have issued a clarion call to the political parties for a consensus in declaring a moratorium on student politics in academic institutions.
In the sad drama at JU the alleged activities of the VC in fostering student politics, and siding with a faction and giving them a hand in seat distribution and tender manipulation, has assumed special significance. As reports reveal, the VC could have taken prompt action when the Proctor assaulted the president of the Teachers' Association. The way he has handled and continues to handle the JU incident has raised eyebrows in many circles. Tofail Ahmed, tormented father of slain student Zubair Ahmed, laments: "What could be more shocking for the parents than their wards coming back home in a coffin as a sequel to campus violence?"
With violence surging up, extortion spree going unabated and the economy in bad shape, stalwarts in the administration remain silent and indulge in rhetoric that hardly appeals to suffering people. Is it that the massive election victory has caused their leadership quality to atrophy instead of radiating the guiding spirit that the people demanded and craved so much ? Having a student wing in the party, far from being an asset is destroying the party's image. The people ask the government to choose between the criminals and them.
In the worst of times, in the national context, draco-nian laws are framed. But when it comes to implemen-tation, precious little is done. Since this government came to power, people saw in stunned disbelief the most audacious acts of terrorism in the campuses relating to issues not at all linked to studies. Most of these criminals operating in the name of student community have been escaping arrest and punishment. In most cases they enjoy the patronage of some politicians. As it turns out, a crime today is a low-risk, high-return business.
With more than 90% chance that one will not be convicted, it's no wonder that these youngsters don't think twice before committing a crime. Despite the PM's stern warning, criminals are operating with greater ferocity and vengeance. Otherwise, how come the identified killers of Nasim are out on bail and moving freely in the campus as reported in the Prothom Alo on January 15. Is it that the administration is incapable of taking action against the criminals bearing the label of a ruling political party?
People recall the time when students in our country had to abandon their studies and respond to the call of the time in driving British Raj from this sub-continent. The heroic role that the students played in the historic language movement in 1952, anti-Ayub movement in the '60s, anti-education commission movement in 1962, mass upsurge in 1969 and Liberation War in 1971 can hardly be overestimated. But during most part of the post-liberation days, patronised by a section of disgruntled political leaders who initiated a process of cadre recruitment to serve their own petty interest, often in disregard of national interest, these armed youth have been playing havoc with the lives of peace loving citizens and ruining their own careers.
Bangladesh has now become a cauldron more than a country. The brew bubbling here has burst into catastrophe that drowns all nation building programmes. The warning bells are not just ringing but they are booming the message throughout the country. Everyone can hear these bells except our leaders !
Using the signboard of different political parties, these armed cadres or rather hooligans and musclemen have sown the seeds of a new brand of politics that uses terror and corruption to consolidate power. Almost without exception, colleges and universities also have turned into dens of criminals. The situation has come to such a pass that every sensible Bangladeshi feels outraged, shamed and sickened by the manner in which successive governments have handled this monstrous problem. In fact, godfather politics is a reflection of what is wrong in Bangladesh regarding crime and police administration.
Only a handful of students are involved in such dirty student politics. Citizens and most teachers favour banning, or at least suspending, student politics for some years. Unless efforts are taken to de-link student politics from national politics, there is hardly any hope on the horizon.
Comments