Editorial
JCD's new committees
Where is the new blood?
Student politics in our country in a way is a mirror reflection of our mainstream politics. The organisational characteristics, too, are more or less the same. Both obviously lack democratic practice.
The recent announcement of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's (JCD) new central and Dhaka University committees by the BNP high command marks a continuation of the traditional practice. Even though BNP leadership had given to understand that they would induct fresh leadership they have apparently backed out from it.
The BNP high command does not have the authority to approve such a committee as, under the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2009, student groups cannot be associated with a political party. Yet, the leadership endorsed by the party Chairperson is in saddle. However, of the five top leaders of the central committee, four are over the age of 40. A few are said to be married with school-going children of their own, while some are even rumoured to have belonged to opposing political groups and to have allegedly attacked BNP and JCD offices and members in the past.
The focus, which the leaders claim has been on experience and competence, seems to be on muscle power, turning a blind eye to ethics in the formation of not only this committee, but in the selection and activities of most of our student parties. Our glorious tradition of student politics which led us to victory in the most difficult of times has been completely trampled upon, leaving behind a new genre of leadership bereft of young blood and ideas and caught in the clutches of moral bankruptcy. If this is the state of our 'young leadership', we are extremely apprehensive about what sort of a political future awaits us.
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