Special Correspondent :
The assault on and subsequent death of a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh following internal feuds, is an example that the student front of the ruling party has become wild. Saad Ibne Momtaz, a student of fisheries, was beaten up mercilessly by some BCL activists at Ashraful Haque Hall of the university on Monday. Saad, who was a leader of the hall BCL committee, succumbed to his injuries at Trauma Centre in Mymensingh town on Tuesday. The killing has provoked sharp reaction among general students, who have been staging noisy demonstrations on the campus for the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the killing. Some teachers have also joined them in the fight for action against those responsible for the incident.
BCL has been allegedly running torture cell in the BAU dormitories.
The list of allegations raised against the BCL, is quite big including toll collection from business establishments in adjoining areas, seat allotment in exchange of money and eve teasing. A section of the BAU administration, it is alleged, either extends tacit support to illegal activities of the BCL or turns a blank eye. The memory of killing of young tailor Bishwajit by BCL activists near the city’s Bahadur Shah Park on December 9, 2012 during opposition’s countrywide road blockade programme, is still fresh in our memory. He was hacked to death by BCL boys when Bishwajit was on way to his brother’s tailoring shop.
Since January 2009, when the AL-led government assumed office for its previous stint, the BCL has repeatedly hit the media headlines for its involvement in acts of crimes. It also hit the headlines for driving away its political opponents, especially Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student front of the BNP, out of campus from different public universities and colleges. Different educational institutions including Sylhet University College, Islamic University, Rajshahi University and Barisal University had to remain closed on different occasions for reign of terror let loose by BCL. The Education Minister was seen weeping in public having witnessed the damaged dormitories of Sylhet MC University College, which were set on fire by BCL men. But so far no action has been taken against those responsible for the incident .As a result BCL has become more and more wild, it is alleged.
Once their domination on campus is secured, BCL leaders and activists turn against each other. The internal feuds led to violent clashes which left several people killed in recent years. Even on Friday one BCL leader was killed in Rajshahi University. The reasons behind the incident however, could not be known immediately.
In an incident Rabiul Islam, a Jubo League man was shot dead by unidentified persons at Hamchhadi Union under Luxmipur district on Thursday night. He was with rebel AL candidate Mohiuddin Bakul in March 31 Upazila elections. His death might be linked to his role in the election, media report said.
In another incident three AL men were injured while making bombs at Charhogla village under Sonargaon Upazila on Thursday. Those injured were identified as Jumman, Mohammad Ali and Mokbul Hossain. The bombs were being manufactured at the residence of AL man Alimullah, who however, claimed not involved in bomb making.
Meanwhile, Begunjoar High School at Badalgachhi, Naogaon was closed following physical assault on three teachers including Shamim Ahmed, head master of the school in an attack led by Upazila AL leader Ayenuddin Sheikh. The incident took place following a dispute between Ayenuddin and the headmaster over formation of School Managing Committee, said a report published in a Bengali daily on Friday. In one incident a ruling party Member of Parliament (MP) Abdul Wadud of Chapainawabganj allegedly assaulted daily Jugantor District Correspondent Emran Faruk on Thursday.
These are just a couple of examples of excesses committed by the ruling party men in different places across the country every day.
In the AL-led government’s previous term, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself issued warnings on several occasions of stern actions, legal and organisational, against troublemakers within the BCL. Her warnings, as it appears, have fallen on deaf ear. These days neither the government, nor the ruling party leaders even utter anything about the BCL excesses.
Sustained protests as has been witnessed at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, as it appears, remains the key to making the incumbents effectively deal with the BCL troublemakers. Stern disciplinary actions should also be taken against AL men who are committing excesses, otherwise the very existence of the ruling party might be in danger, which is not desirable in the interest of functioning of democracy.
This is more disturbing that the political leaders mostly keep their own children away from what is wrongly called student politics.
The assault on and subsequent death of a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh following internal feuds, is an example that the student front of the ruling party has become wild. Saad Ibne Momtaz, a student of fisheries, was beaten up mercilessly by some BCL activists at Ashraful Haque Hall of the university on Monday. Saad, who was a leader of the hall BCL committee, succumbed to his injuries at Trauma Centre in Mymensingh town on Tuesday. The killing has provoked sharp reaction among general students, who have been staging noisy demonstrations on the campus for the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the killing. Some teachers have also joined them in the fight for action against those responsible for the incident.
BCL has been allegedly running torture cell in the BAU dormitories.
The list of allegations raised against the BCL, is quite big including toll collection from business establishments in adjoining areas, seat allotment in exchange of money and eve teasing. A section of the BAU administration, it is alleged, either extends tacit support to illegal activities of the BCL or turns a blank eye. The memory of killing of young tailor Bishwajit by BCL activists near the city’s Bahadur Shah Park on December 9, 2012 during opposition’s countrywide road blockade programme, is still fresh in our memory. He was hacked to death by BCL boys when Bishwajit was on way to his brother’s tailoring shop.
Since January 2009, when the AL-led government assumed office for its previous stint, the BCL has repeatedly hit the media headlines for its involvement in acts of crimes. It also hit the headlines for driving away its political opponents, especially Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student front of the BNP, out of campus from different public universities and colleges. Different educational institutions including Sylhet University College, Islamic University, Rajshahi University and Barisal University had to remain closed on different occasions for reign of terror let loose by BCL. The Education Minister was seen weeping in public having witnessed the damaged dormitories of Sylhet MC University College, which were set on fire by BCL men. But so far no action has been taken against those responsible for the incident .As a result BCL has become more and more wild, it is alleged.
Once their domination on campus is secured, BCL leaders and activists turn against each other. The internal feuds led to violent clashes which left several people killed in recent years. Even on Friday one BCL leader was killed in Rajshahi University. The reasons behind the incident however, could not be known immediately.
In an incident Rabiul Islam, a Jubo League man was shot dead by unidentified persons at Hamchhadi Union under Luxmipur district on Thursday night. He was with rebel AL candidate Mohiuddin Bakul in March 31 Upazila elections. His death might be linked to his role in the election, media report said.
In another incident three AL men were injured while making bombs at Charhogla village under Sonargaon Upazila on Thursday. Those injured were identified as Jumman, Mohammad Ali and Mokbul Hossain. The bombs were being manufactured at the residence of AL man Alimullah, who however, claimed not involved in bomb making.
Meanwhile, Begunjoar High School at Badalgachhi, Naogaon was closed following physical assault on three teachers including Shamim Ahmed, head master of the school in an attack led by Upazila AL leader Ayenuddin Sheikh. The incident took place following a dispute between Ayenuddin and the headmaster over formation of School Managing Committee, said a report published in a Bengali daily on Friday. In one incident a ruling party Member of Parliament (MP) Abdul Wadud of Chapainawabganj allegedly assaulted daily Jugantor District Correspondent Emran Faruk on Thursday.
These are just a couple of examples of excesses committed by the ruling party men in different places across the country every day.
In the AL-led government’s previous term, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself issued warnings on several occasions of stern actions, legal and organisational, against troublemakers within the BCL. Her warnings, as it appears, have fallen on deaf ear. These days neither the government, nor the ruling party leaders even utter anything about the BCL excesses.
Sustained protests as has been witnessed at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, as it appears, remains the key to making the incumbents effectively deal with the BCL troublemakers. Stern disciplinary actions should also be taken against AL men who are committing excesses, otherwise the very existence of the ruling party might be in danger, which is not desirable in the interest of functioning of democracy.
This is more disturbing that the political leaders mostly keep their own children away from what is wrongly called student politics.
