A new trend

A restive environment had existed in this institution over the last few days, apparently stemming from a minor incident. But, the fact that it involved student parties affiliated to coalition partners has lent a new dimension to the matter. This is certainly a disconcerting development insofar as student politics is concerned.

One had hoped that the current coalition partners, particularly the BNP, would address this issue and bring some element of sobriety in the violent nature and rein in the wayward character of student politics that we had witnessed in the past. We are dismayed that such expectations have not been lived upto.

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Violence in educational institutions, often on partisan grounds, is unfortunately a reflection of a political culture that has long been prevalent in Bangladesh; a culture that is manifested by the show of intolerance, animosity and violence, that does not eliminate the prospect of clash even between student groups that are on the same side of the political fence. Given this disposition it is little wonder that there exists an even more uncompromising and violent relationship between students belonging to the opposition political parties.

Nobody will disagree that the spate of violence in our educational institutions and the culture of student politics that we witness at present will have the most deleterious consequences on our society whose impact will last longer than one cares to contemplate. Our repeated entreaties to the political parties to address this issue in earnest had fallen on deaf ears. But we shall continue to harp on this.

We reemphasise that it is imperative for all the political parties to come together to bring a change in the culture of student politics. This can only be brought about if we change the nature and culture of politics at national level. The party in power must take the lead in this matter.