BCL's internal feud disrupts public peace

THE Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) is again in the news for the wrong reasons. This time some activists from the Titumir college unit of the organisation poured out their wrath on unsuspecting traffic on the Mohakhali-Gulshan road smashing several dozen vehicles Monday evening.

All because, the new committee constituted by the BCL's central leadership was not to the liking of a faction of the student body. If it is not for the arrogance attributable to their attachment to the ruling party, it is beyond comprehension why must pedestrians, commuters and transport owners and operators be subjected to violence originating from their internal squabbles?  We are aghast at the untoward incident.

This is not the first instance, though, that internal feuds of  the ruling party's student wing have spilled on to the street causing immense suffering to the public and damage to vehicles. Hardly a week back, BCL activists on their way to a central rally  vandalized Chittagong Railway station suspending  its operation for a few hours.

BCL activists behave recklessly particularly drawing on two factors: firstly, from a feeling of being empowered as part of the ruling party and secondly, for the same reason, they have a sense of immunity.

Therefore, the responsibility devolves squarely on the ruling party to discipline them with an iron fist rather than resorting to exhortations, warnings, or expulsions from committees.