DU strike crosses critical threshold

A combine of six student bodies called an indefinite strike last month, the crisis originating from a BCL procession coming under attack by the JCD activists. Academic activities in Dhaka University have come to a standstill. It was no doubt highhandedness of the most despicable kind meted out by the JCD. But can the opposition-backed student bodies hold over 30,000 general students hostage only because a rally was attacked? The general students are no stake-holders in this game, yet they are the ones paying the highest price due to inter-party confrontation.

The highly damaging impact of such indefinite strike is being felt in every aspect of the university's academic life. So many classes of different faculties couldn't be held. At least 600 exams had to be postponed. And it is not at all clear how many more days will be lost.

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Any perceived rationale behind such strikes is weakened or badly diluted by the fact that the general students stand ignored. Besides, the way the strike has continued, it couldn't be anything but an imposition on majority students. The exercise goes against the interest of education, welfare of the students, and concomitantly, the interest of the nation. It is not clear who they are serving, but it is surely not the students.

The opposition parties do have a role to play here. They could try and dissuade student activists from following a self-defeating course which they are on. Likewise, the ruling party should see to it that its student front does not engage in disruptive politics.

The DU authorities have to end the deadlock by initiating a meaningful process of dialogue. And, for its success, the parties in the fray should be in a reconciliatory mood, instead of trying to obliterate each other from campus politics.