Editorial
BCL excesses take an unbearable turn
How such offences can go unpunished?
ADMISSION trade by Bangladesh Chhatra Leagur (BCL) activists has gone to such an extent that now different factions of this student wing are at each other's throat in claiming their stakes from the college administration in different districts. They have roughed up college principals in Pabna and Bogra and pressured the college administration at the Hatia Government College Noakhali to have students of their choice admitted into those colleges flouting all laws and rules. In consequence, the process of admission in those colleges has been put on hold to the utter dismay of the admission-seekers. And the outraged teachers in one of those colleges have gone on an indefinite strike protesting the assault on the principal of that institution.
But what is the government or the ruling party doing to stop such heinous activities committed by the different factions of BCL? Earlier, the prime minister herself assured us that law would not spare anybody irrespective of their political identities. But all we have seen is in the face of hooliganism, rent-seeking, tender business, interference in the employment process, violent feuding among student factions, the Awami League leaders from time to time ostensibly distanced themselves from such student factions. And it was also said that in the spirit of the amendment to the Representation of People's Order (RPO), the Awami League would not have any link with its student front.
Such stand on the part of Awami League was appreciable. But being the ruling party are they not also obliged to rein the in the student bodies that are claiming their allegiance to it (the ruling party)? But so far, no serious effort to that end could be noticed.
And when it comes to government's intervention to discipline rowdy student factions, it is also not enough to tell the police to work without fear or favour. They must also ensure that the police act in a free and fair manner.
It is against the background of such half-hearted approach to contain student excesses that new manifestations of student tyranny are now coming to light further damaging the credibility of the government. The upshot of such undue pressure on the college administrations is that the normal process of admission is being stymied. The ultimate victims of such interference in the day-to-administration of the educational institutions are the students. Another casualty is academic merit. One wonders where such mess-ups in the educational administration would finally end up!
The ruling party or the government for that matter should put its foot down in the matter and ensure that the rowdy BCL elements vitiating educational atmosphere are arrested and awarded exemplary punishment so that such incidents may not be repeated elsewhere. And neither the authority of the government, nor that of the educational administrations can be allowed in this manner to be diluted by the nefarious activities of a bunch of hooligans passing for student activists.
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