Editor's Pick

Unacceptable violence in public institutions

19 February 2010, 18:00 PM
EDITORIAL
Muhammad Zamir

This is certainly unbecoming of educational campus.

IT is indeed sad that student politics has deteriorated today to a point where activists of political parties feel encouraged not only to be disorderly but also to resort to murder. This has added a new dimension to the sorry scene. The stakes have grown beyond just acquiring control on teachers' recruitment, students' admission, tender manipulation, etc. The deplorable attack is now being interpreted by some as a new phase in the ongoing efforts by Shibir in different educational institutions all over the country to re-establish their presence ahead of a possible War Cirmes Trial for those associated with the genocide committed during 1971. This latest manifestation in Rajshahi has been a more formal expression of the fact that this University in recent years has turned into a citadel of reactionary politics where muscle power is being used to secure objectives. As in the case of Chittagong, this has also re-affirmed the failure of the progressive secular-democratic forces. What is most discouraging is the brutality associated with the incident perpetrated by the armed cadre of the Islami Chatra Shibir, students' front of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the Rajshahi campus. The killing of the activist of the Bangladesh Chatra League was also accompanied by random attacks on their students, some of whom suffered pre-meditated grievous injuries like cutting of tendons and muscle in their arms and legs. The other serious aspect of this issue has been the open citing of claims that this University's teachers have become so politicized that their political preferences have subordinated educational impartiality and needs of students. In this context it has been interesting to read a newspaper report that there are around 1,100 teachers at Rajshahi University of whom around 325 have been classified as belonging to the progressive parties, about 300 being loyal to BNP and the rest having affiliations with the Jamaat. It has also been asserted that the Shibir is trying to maintain its supremacy on the campus through direct and indirect threats addressed to the University authorities. Another newspaper has noted that nearly 60 clashes have taken place among the student wings of different political parties on the RU campus since 1971. This has resulted in the deaths of 28 and injuries to more than 2,100. Such disturbances have led to the University remaining closed for more than 600 days over the past three decades. It is disappointing that such mayhem should have occurred again between students of different political persuasions and that the law and order agencies as well as the University authorities were unable to contain it. This will certainly affect credibility and public perception about them. We have also seen electronic footage recently of the police authorities remaining on the sidelines during the intra-party violence in the Dhaka University campus. From that point of view it is indeed satisfying that the government, particularly the Home Ministry and other law and order agencies have started taking action against those allegedly responsible for these incidents. The Prime Minister on more than one occasion has urged the students to refrain from violence in the campus. She has similarly directed the police force to crack down on trouble makers without fear regardless of political affiliations of the perpetrators. One can only hope that this freefall within the campus can be controlled effectively. A stable and peaceful campus is vital for meeting educational needs. What has happened in Rajshahi has already cast long shadows in several other educational institutions. It has led to rival student bodies undertaking armed attacks in Pabna, Pirojpur, Mehendiganj and Gaibandha. The government needs to show zero tolerance towards such violence. I believe that time has also come for the relevant authorities to examine whether there is need to permit political activities within teachers and students in different public sector educational institutions. Yes, students and teachers of the Dhaka University as well as other public educational institutions played a magnificent and responsible role in the past in the achieving of many national causes. Their participation and sacrifice directly helped during the language movement and also during the war of liberation. These were worthy causes. However what is happening now is unacceptable. Consequently, I feel that there is need to take comprehensive measures and stern action in the public universities and other public educational institutions at all levels. What we have seen is another effort to create unnecessary unrest and instability. As with the BDR mutiny, this is one more pre-planned effort to disrupt governance. We have to understand that there are many national issues that need to be addressed successfully if we are going to reduce poverty, achieve food security, overcome the challenges of climate variability and remove illiteracy. It is consequently incumbent on the political leaderships of all parties to work together in being able to reach these goals. In this context, it is suggested that there should be measures to set up as a first step a specific Judicial Inquiry Commission to ascertain what led to the incident in Rajshahi and who were involved. This would be required for the subsequent judicial process. At the same time, another Inquiry Commission needs to be established by the government, composed of one Member of Parliament from different political parties represented in the Jatiyo Sangshad, Vice Chancellors of the important public sector Universities and the Chairman of the University Grants Commission. This Commission could be chaired by a retired Chief Justice and may be given a firm time frame within which it will determine objectively the causes for disruptive behaviour within different public sector campuses and then recommend necessary steps for meaningful solutions. The Education Minister could later submit this Commission's report for discussion within the relevant Standing Committee of the Parliament. Subsequently, it could be placed in front of the House for its consideration and for whatever necessary steps that it might deem fit. We have to recognize that we have a serious problem in our hands. We need to think out of the box. We have to remember that despite scanty resources, massive amounts of subsidy are provided for public sector educational opportunities. Such constructive efforts must not be allowed to go in vain.
Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador and can be reached at mzamir@dhaka.net

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