Campus violence
Again, we have observed bloodletting on our university campuses and ugly politics in public run universities and affiliated colleges is a sad reflection on the achievement of these educational institutions. No matter what the basis of student politics is, ethnic, political, ideological or religious, regional or even academic, the fact remains that it undermines academic pursuits and discipline in educational institutions.
Student politics poses a threat to the academic discipline in a number of ways and in case it succeeds, it makes the continuation of academic activity almost impossible because of disturbances and strikes on campuses.
The provision of moral and financial support to student leaders enhances the legitimacy of their political role on campuses. Without the patronage of political parties, students' active participation in campus politics would not have been possible. The majority of students are not involved in student politics and are more concerned with academic advancement. The student leaders, a considerable number of whom have adopted student politics as a vocation, look for opportunities to enhance the role of the parties they belong to, even if that means polluting the academic atmosphere.
In many of the government run universities in Bangladesh and in numerous colleges (non-professional, professional/technical) where student politics is in vogue some student groups dominate the show. The irony is that student bodies today are more political and ideological than academic.
The issue deserves a closer look.
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