MAILBOX
BCL activists on a rampage!
A group of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists has been playing the role of thugs since the quota reformation movement began. They have repeatedly attempted different ways to foil this legitimate, peaceful protest. But due to having strength in unity amongst protesters and join conveners, BCL members have failed to foil this well-supported people's movement. Even amidst rampant violence and intimidation by BCL activist-leaders, the movement has been successful, leading to the Prime Minister's decision to abolish quotas in civil service jobs.
Yet, BCL activists viciously attacked demonstrators and joint-conveners who were preparing to hold the prescheduled press conference in front of DU Central Library building. The joint conveners who were at the forefront of this movement were being assaulted by BCL activists and are allegedly detained by law enforcers.
However, our constitution reads: "Every citizen should have constitutional right where they can assemble and participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of public order or public health."
So, it is raising some questions that there is discontent and headaches at the demonstrators and joint convener leaders. Who has given the right to BCL to impede this peaceful, prescheduled press conference by force?
Shame on our law enforcers who are supposed to play constructive role in holding this peaceful, unarmed, meeting. The role of law enforcement agencies in this regard has disappointed us. According to The Daily Star and other media houses, duty police members were seen leaving the spot just before the BCL attacked on the quota reform activists at Central Shaheed Minar.
Needless to say, the BCL activists have become unbridled which is why they dare to repeatedly attack on the protestors and joint conveners. It would however be a mistake to think that the latest incident has been committed by their own volition. Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, and others behind them, who attacked the demonstrators should be held accountable. We should try to come up with a meaningful resolution of the quota system in public service recruitment.
Md Abul Khaer
Govt Saadat University College
Tangail
To protect our girls, teach them to be independent
It is really alarming for society when girls are continuously degraded by their male counterparts and even brutally tortured by them. We all know that somehow influenced by the media or other sources of information technology, it seems almost impossible to stop the deviation of the young generation.
Being influenced by obscene and vulgar mentality, their behaviour towards girls has changed. So, teasing, mental harassment, and physical torture are increasing day by day.
Physically handicapped girls, especially, are becoming their victims. We often see news of them being tortured in the name of "judgment", especially in rural areas of the country.
Many girls commit suicide, as they fail to bear the agony and harassment, both physical and mental. Female domestic workers are also brutally tortured by their employers.
The situation is getting worse day by day, as we have seen that even a young girl of six years of age can become the victim of a brutal rape case. On the other hand, sexual harassment in the name of love or simple friendship has increased a lot too.
The time has come to say no to all these practices. And that is possible only by making our girls independent. When a girl feels that her life is dominated by the male figures of the family, surely, she can't live an independent life. And this "parasite" form of living is a sheer wastage of her true potential. It is high time to ask ourselves how, and in what way, do we really want to save our girls? Otherwise, they will have to suffer in the long run.
Rifat Munir Eti
Mohammadpur, Dhaka