THE rapid-fire eruption of violence engulfing Dhaka University, Dhaka College and BUET campuses following news about Tareq's injury evokes instant condemnation. It has not only caused death, injuries and smashing of vehicles but the manner in which violence has been wreaked has had a sinister ring about it.
The lethal reaction was far out of proportion to the nature of injury sustained by Tareq's slipping on the toilet floor which was accidental and described as not being serious. In our emotive culture one could perhaps allow for a modicum of angry reaction on the part of Chhatra Dal activists to the news of ailing Tareq's injury but in spite of the clarification by medical authorities early on the day about Tareq's condition being not serious, the activists didn't relent from violence perpetrating it almost throughout the day.
The torching of the vehicle which led to the gas cylinder bursting and killing a businessman took place at around 2.00pm followed by other incidents. All this shows that the Chhatra Dal activists were out and hell-bent upon disrupting peace. It seemed deliberate, programmed and also orchestrated. In a related development, JCD activists in Bogra set the engine of a train afire around 8.00pm. The JCD activists were raring to organise protest demonstrations for release of Tareq for some time. There was a reason for the authorities to take precautions, especially under an emergency, but apparently this went by default.
The BNP leadership played a mute bystander to the happenings on the day not feeling obliged to even move their little finger in dissuading their student loyalists from the violent course they had taken. BNP is a major political party having been in power for a few terms and could also wear the mantle of government in future; but what account is it giving of itself by allowing the students to cross critical thresholds in terms of relating to the people. Who is going to take the responsibility for the dead and the bereaved, the physical injuries inflicted upon people, 30 vehicles vandalised and the two set ablaze?