A RECENT report in a local daily stated that Chhatra League activists started hogging headlines more frequently for their infighting, acting as mercenaries, extortion, attacks on student protests and fight for supremacy on campuses of educational institutions hampering academic activities.Of late Chhatra League infighting also forced authorities to close Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology for an indefinite period.Activists of the ruling Awami League-backed student organisation, are also alleged to have raped a woman at Moghbazar in the capital, gone on the rampage in Pabna University of Science and Technology as a Chhatra League leader failed in an exam and engaged in leaking questions of teacher recruitment tests in Patuakhali in June, mentioned the report.The Chhatra League beginning clashes hampered academic activities and forced closure of several universities such as Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University and other educational institutions, stated the report.Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader on Sunday said that ‘unruly activities’ on some Chhatra League activists had tarnished the image of the Awami League and the government. The Chhatra League president, HM Badiuzzaman Shohag, on Monday told reporters that they were victims of politics. No Chhatra League leaders and activists were involved in any such activities.It seems unbelievable but is nonetheless true that some activists of the League are indulging in all sorts of activities which normally would fall within the purview of a criminal organization like the mafia. Extortion, drugs trading, kidnapping for ransom, infighting with other members of the group, beating and killing other students for no reason, raping a woman at gunpoint while keeping her husband hostage, — all of these do not bear the mark of a respectable organization which was at one point in time devoted to the ideals of freedom and independence for Bangladesh. The situation is so bad that even a Presidium member of their own party has denounced the activities of some of their activists — even their street level members have accused other members of acting as criminals.There is no simple solution to the problem of young party activists. They have not been chosen for their academic ability but as musclemen. When others in government are protecting them, why should not the young ones be unruly to show their usefulness as musclemen? When others in the party are making money, the young party activists have to look after themselves. So unless the politics changes, the politics of musclemen and violence will not end. It is wrong to call them political activists. They are unruly criminal activists of the government that depends on their muscle power.