Editorial
Turf wars within BCL exact a heavy price
High time the PM acted decisively and demonstrably
THE shutdown sine die of Dhaka Medical College following a lethal factional clash in the BCL being the latest in the series of infighting-induced closures of educational institutions -- eight of them including two public universities -- the question that exercises the public mind is this: has the ruling party abdicated its authority to its student wing? Or, for that matter, has the government done so?
The midnight mayhem apparently originated in a demand for toll to carry on with a rag programme in Fazle Rabbi Hostel planned by a section of students. This itself was symptomatic of the ailment of toll collection linked to control of turf by one student group over the other. Little wonder, therefore, Tuesday's eruption came in the wake of a tense situation that had been simmering in the hostel owing to running battles between two factions of BCL contending for supremacy on the campus as well as the hostel.
Judging by the escalatory factious fighting within the BCL, which apart from putting the government's credibility and image on the line, primarily goes to raise a governance issue beyond the pale of a purely academic concern. In the public eye, the wayward students are being defiant of the government authority; there is thus no scope for any wavering stance on the matter, either for the ruling party or the government. Actually, the issues need to be addressed headlong both by the ruling party and the government.
To be frank, the BCL excesses could not have come to this pass but for the impunity they were feeding on. In the beginning, it was given to understand that since the Chhatra Dal had done the thing when in power, what if the BCL paid them back in their own coin! Surely, the attempt to right a wrong by a wrong only aggravates the wrong. Besides, what of the mandate for change with which the Mohajote came to power? Then, the aberrations were associated with infiltration of 'outsiders' including opportunistic elements of beleaguered Chhatra Dal. But that does not absolve the BCL of its responsibility.
To our mind, there are two issues before the Prime Minister. First, she must pull her full weight to clean up the house, meaning that the ruling party writ unmistakably holds over its student front; and secondly, the public is fully informed of her actions against the errant students and see the results for themselves.
Despite the series of troubles, none have been arrested or legally proceeded against, although there were arms discovered and physical assaults made on victims. The Prime Minister has directed the police to act independently, regardless of whether a law breaker belonged to her party or not. The police should not hesitate to do it.
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