Countering the opponents intelligently
It is very much possible to counter the opposing student organizations on the campus peacefully, tactfully and intelligently. In this way, we sidelined Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS), predecessor of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), at Rajshahi University in 1967.
A year ago, ICS swept S.M.Hall and the then Jinnah Hall (now Sher-e-Bangla Hall), and captured 50 percent seats at Nawab Abdul Latif Hall in the Student Union Election. On the other hand, East Pakistan Student Union (Motia Group) won 15 seats out of 18 at Rajshahi University Central Student Union (RUCSU) Election and flooded Syed Ameer Ali Hall and Mannujan Hall. But there was no sign of unrest on the campus as the East Pakistan Student League (EPSL) accepted the defeat but started work among the students with new zeal and energy to regain the lost glory.
So, when the date of the RUCSU and five halls’ union election was announced, ICS was dreaming of broader result. Contrarily, we were thinking of a return. I, as President, on behalf of East Pakistan Student Union (Menon Group), Latif Hall Unit, offered to EPSL to negotiate for coalition panel at Nawab Abdul Latif Hall. Inspired by our idea, EPSU (Menon) and EPSL contested the election jointly at Jinnah Hall and won all the seats. The EPSL came back with a bash at RUCSU, Latif Hall and S.M.Hall while EPSU (Motia) continued triumph at Syed Ameer Ali Hall and Monnujan Hall.
Thus, we sidelined ICS, which passed the subsequent decade in utter frustration..
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
