We are appalled at the report of Dhaka College students and local shopkeepers getting involved in a brawl on petty matters that left fifteen people injured. The two-hour long brick-batting and vandalism that ensued caused damage to a number of shops in a local market place and a building of the college. It is not really clear why a minor altercation over the purchase of a shoe-rack ended up with the two sides going on a war path. Clearly both sides ran out of patience and sense of propriety taking recourse to violence. It is extremely regrettable that their mindless acts caused three-hour long traffic congestion on Mirpur Road that ultimately spilled all over Dhanmondi residential area.
The vicinity around Dhaka College and New Market tends to get heated up often for various reasons and we have seen some severe cases of violence and vandalism there in the past that left hundreds injured and scores of vehicles damaged. Though a good number of police personnel remain on duty in the area during business hours we wonder what role the police contingent in the area had played on Saturday to defuse the brewing trouble. The pertinent question is, why was it allowed to be blown out of proportion? Preventing small-scale problems from going out of hand is the foremost duty of any police contingent in public places but it has been often alleged that such forces remain a silent spectator and appear on the scene only after considerable damage has been done to human life and property.
At the same time, we wonder why the students did not report to the college authorities or the higher police officials of any misconduct on the part of the traders. When students take law in their own hands for trivial reasons it tarnishes their image as a sensible group of people who would lead the country in the future.
We are in the know of many committees and associations of traders existing in the area who can be approached to settle any dispute. Similarly if the shopkeepers had any grievance they could approach the college authorities. But under no circumstances should any group threaten peace by taking law into their own hands. We feel both teachers and traders' association should instil a sense of responsibility in those under their wings to avoid any unpleasant confrontation in future.