APPARENTLY not content with being confined to public universities and colleges, Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student front of ruling party Awami League now moves to form committees at secondary schools. It has asked all its organisational units to set up committees in such schools in their respective areas, as per reports in a local daily.
The main objective behind the move is to spread the ideologies of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman among the students and strengthen the organisation further. BCL Central Executive made the decision at an emergency meeting on Tuesday at a time when violence and intra-organisation conflicts of the student groups at different universities and colleges are alarmingly on rise.
Such incidents have resulted in at least 125 deaths in the last eight years, according to media reports. The victims include 71 BCL leaders and activists, of whom 60 were killed in internal feuds and 11 in clashes with rival organisations. The rest were general people, including children. According to Rights Organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), two persons were killed and 156 others injured in 20 incidents of BCL infighting from January to September this year.
Educationists are sceptical about the BCL move — and perhaps rightly so. There are school parliaments to help flourish leadership qualities in school students. Student politics has now lost its glory. In the past, students used to lead all democratic movements. Now there seems to be nothing but a lust for power and money. The real motives of the students who led the struggle for the Language Movement and the struggle for liberation were based on greater national interest. And in doing so many lost their lives and properties but it hears now stories of old dusty relics when our students now fight and die for money and power.
What will be the benefits of setting up such committees? If the main objectives remain the spreading of ideologies of the Father of the Nation it would be a lofty ideal — but whether it would be followed in practice is something will need constant monitoring. What the Father of the Nation wanted most for the country is democracy and improvements in the standard of living of the citizens.
In present day context involving young school students in politics at so early age is more likely to pave their way to infighting and the risk to their life may increase many times to frighten parents. It is indeed alarming news to parents and the nation as a whole. Spreading Bangabandhu’s ideals can be better achieved by promoting teachings curriculum at such schools. So we must say the student body should abandon its plan to bring politics to secondary schools to allow parents to live in peace and keep young students free from factional quarrels.
