Editorial
One more CU student dies tragically
A number of questions need to be answered
THE tragic death of yet one more student of Chittagong University (it is the third in the last couple of months) is deeply disturbing. It is so because it happened in an unnatural manner, allegedly at the hands of some villagers. It has emerged that the death of Asaduzzaman was the result of a confrontational situation between students and villagers, portents for which reportedly existed. Adding to the tragedy is the fact that it was a case of mistaken identity that led to Asaduzzaman's death. Predictably, it led to consequences we are all too familiar with. Students of CU went on the rampage which in turn led to a suspension of on-going examinations. Moreover, a strike has been called by the Bangladesh Chhatra League to protest the young man's death.
It is a situation which calls for a thorough investigation on the part of the authorities. For the Chittagong University administration, it is important to inquire into the fact of why some students found themselves in hostile circumstances before the villagers. For the local administration, it is necessary to find out the reasons that led to anger and violent action on the part of the villagers, to a point where some of them ended up injuring Asaduzzaman fatally. That said, it is deeply regrettable that the young man, still alive after the grievous assault on him, could not be saved in the end. It is obvious that the university clinic, where he was taken after the incident on Thursday night, did not have enough facilities to treat him. That led to his being sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where he died in the intensive care unit late in the day on Friday. The question which now must be answered is why he was not taken quickly to CMCH and why emergency measures were not applied to his treatment. The rather laid-back attitude of the CU administration, for that is what was, is to be condemned for all the right reasons.
Coming back to the incident that led to Asaduzzaman's death, there is little question that provocation played a part in the violent incident. Obviously, there is an intimidating atmosphere in the area which must be looked into and addressed head-on. One would have expected the teachers of CU to play a more pro-active role in seeing that their students stayed safe and well away from trouble. Be that as it may, it is our expectation that the men who swooped upon Asaduzzaman and his friends will be swiftly tracked down and brought before the law.
The death of a young student is always, in this country, the end of hope for his struggling family. Asaduzzaman's death has created a gaping hole for his near and dear ones. Our sympathies and prayers are for them in their time of grief.
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