NSU incident
On 13 May 2009 two articles were published in the DS that addressed the recent clashes at North South University and some other relevant issues regarding our private universities.
The article entitled 'The NSU incident- a Microcosm of Bangladesh?' was written by Mr. Mridul Chowdhury and the article entitled 'Fees, Students and Private Universities' was written by Mr. Badrul Ahsan. Although the authors addressed a few significant issues regarding the NSU incident, as a student of the university I couldn't help but disagree with their views on several crucial points. For instance, in his article Mr. Mridul argues that if there had been a 'student council' in the university, it might have been able to prevent this fees hike crisis through peaceful negotiation. I think the author doesn't understand that as students we do not go to an institution to formulate points of negotiation, to hold meetings and to engage in 'political' activities (I'm not referring to party politics).
Instead, today financially better off students prefer private universities to public ones because private universities generally offer an atmosphere that is free from political turmoil. The author also fails to comprehend the fact that in our public universities associations similar to what he euphemistically regards as 'student governments' have recurrently paved ways for mischievous conducts that have repeatedly hampered the academic processes of these institutions.
Moreover, if there are 'student councils' who will elect their leaders? The election processes will inexorably bring more 'politics' and favouritism. The consequent conflicts between different groups of students will further jeopardize our academic endeavours.
In Bangladesh's context, student councils will certainly attract party politics because here political parties are keen to place their representatives in crucial organizations so that they can use them for political purposes. I'm not cynical about the basic characteristics of our youth. However, I cannot be optimistic either about the overall political culture of our country, various elements of which might mislead our naive youth.
Moreover, an ineffective 'student council' may provoke students to be unruly about trivial matters and make them oblivious to their more sacred obligations. About the NSU fees enhancement the author argues that many students who have been paying the 'Campus Development Fees' will never be able to attend the new campus because they will graduate by that time. However, the university authorities cannot predict which students will attend the campus because how long it takes for a student to graduate depends upon his/her academic aptitude and his/her personal choice of taking courses.
This fee must be viewed as a 'contribution' from the students, irrespective of their duration of study. And understandably it was not fair to charge different fees from different students. In his article Mr. Badrul Ahsan underscores different unwanted events that took place in private universities in the recent time. However, these incidents (although 'unwanted') are nothing compared to the incredible skirmishes that frequently occur in our public universities. He suggests that UGC should determine 'fees ceiling' for private universities. But can the UGC also control the rising costs of the services that these universities offer? There are different categories of private universities. We know that the best English medium schools are the most expensive ones. Likewise, if a student wants to study in the leading private university of the country he should be ready to pay a high tuition fee. Moreover, the private universities offer merit-based scholarships, which's an option that impoverished students might utilize only if they can study hard.
I think the whole NSU incident is extremely regrettable. Misunderstandings can occur. The university authorities should have announced the fee-enhancement earlier. But that doesn't justify vandalism and uncivilized conducts by the students. Students should have been a bit more formal in expressing their demands. Perhaps, it was not fair for the authorities to call the police to deal with an internal issue. However, it's also possible that the situation had left them with no other option but to call the police. Similarly, the policemen should have been circumspect enough to understand the nature of the situation and not to assault the students in such a brutal manner.
It's easier to play blame games but it's difficult for us to find a solution to avert such incidents in the future. It has become a tradition in our country that no matter what we are, we always have to downgrade ourselves.
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