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Editorial

Fresh violence at Dhaka University

Authorities must go beyond tough words
4 February 2010, 18:00 PM
EDITORIAL
THE death of a student of Dhaka University following a fresh spate of violence on the campus only reinforces the case for tough action toward restoring discipline in academia. Only a few days ago we had commented on the growing tendency of students towards violence and asked the authorities to do everything that needed to be done to roll back this slide to disorder. Unfortunately, the slide has continued, as demonstrated by the violence at DU and at institutions like Dhaka College, where the simple process of admission has become hostage at the hands of student politics. It is our considered opinion that unless drastic and foolproof steps are taken to restore a normal academic atmosphere on the campuses, things may spiral out of control and leave citizens helpless in the face of it all. The death of Abubakr Siddique following police action to quell violence between two factions of the Chhatra League at Sir A.F. Rahman Hall of DU should send out a strong message to the government. And the message is that the time for tough words is past and what the nation wishes to see now is a translation of those tough words into concrete steps. It is a matter of huge shame that every now and then students break into violence over matters that cannot be within their jurisdiction. When students try to control the admission process in a college or take charge of tenders at universities or fight for control over hall dormitories, one wonders where the high principle of education has gone missing in all this. The year-old Awami League-led government has repeatedly reassured the nation that no one can get away with violence or any kind of wrongdoing. Now comes the time when it must follow through on its pledges. That process can begin when the authorities go to the bottom of the chaos on the campuses. On our part, we feel that such a task can be accomplished through taking some important and necessary steps. In the first place, student violence must now be regarded as a grave matter at the intra-party as well as inter-party level. The major parties which have their student followers in very large numbers on the campuses must, in the interest of education, arrive at a consensus on the need for swift, meaningful action against their violence-prone student supporters. But that can only be done if the parties, individually within their inner councils, take the decisive step of moving against their young followers and convey the message that anyone and everyone who tries to take education hostage will face the full force of the law. In the second (and this follows from what has just been stated), student disorder must no longer be regarded as part of the broad law and order scheme of things because of the obvious fact that such a step has not worked so far. What must now come into place is a clear, unambiguous plan of legal action against any student found involved in disrupting the academic atmosphere. Such action, where students are judged guilty of criminal conduct, must lead to swift expulsion from the university or college concerned and so must serve as a deterrent to others with similar proclivities toward violence. Violence on the campuses is a dire warning on what we must do. When students whip out guns and machetes and knives effortlessly, it is time to swing into action. Our schools, colleges and universities must have their sanctity restored in full measure.

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