Frequent clashes among political party backed student organisations
on Chittagong University campus has led to suspension of
academic activities of 20,000 students for 151 days
in the last two years.
on Chittagong University campus has led to suspension of
academic activities of 20,000 students for 151 days
in the last two years.
On February 9 this year, the CU authorities suspended classes and
examinations for 22 days following a clash between ruling Awami L
eague backed Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and
Jamaat-e-Islami backed Islami Chhatra Shibir that left two students dead.
examinations for 22 days following a clash between ruling Awami L
eague backed Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and
Jamaat-e-Islami backed Islami Chhatra Shibir that left two students dead.
On February 29, the university authorities extended the suspension
for 15 more days.
for 15 more days.
According to CU administration sources, academic activities
were suspended for 33 days last year; and for 82 days in 2010
due to political violence on the campus.
were suspended for 33 days last year; and for 82 days in 2010
due to political violence on the campus.
Clashes involving BCL, Shibir, BNP backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra
Dal (JCD), and some other student organisations resulted in
a number of killings on the campus.
Dal (JCD), and some other student organisations resulted in
a number of killings on the campus.
Since the establishment of the university in 1966, a total of 16
students were killed in clashes over establishing political and
organisational supremacy on the campus, said the sources.
students were killed in clashes over establishing political and
organisational supremacy on the campus, said the sources.
"Unscheduled closures of academic activities badly affect
students and their families, as it wastes valuable time," said
Dr ANM Munir Ahmad, a political
science teacher at the university.
students and their families, as it wastes valuable time," said
Dr ANM Munir Ahmad, a political
science teacher at the university.
"Most students in public universities come from low, middle income,
or even economically insolvent families," he said.
or even economically insolvent families," he said.
"The university authorities should handle the incidents of political
violence on the campus more skillfully," said Dr Munir, also a
member of the university senate.
violence on the campus more skillfully," said Dr Munir, also a
member of the university senate.
"Respect for other political ideologies can change the culture of
violent politics on the campus," he added.
violent politics on the campus," he added.
Activists of student organisations often get into clashes due to
lack of proper leadership, said Dr Mozaffar Ahmad Chowdhury,
president of CU Teachers' Association (CUTA).
lack of proper leadership, said Dr Mozaffar Ahmad Chowdhury,
president of CU Teachers' Association (CUTA).
"If the central students' union was made effective that could
create the leadership," he added.
create the leadership," he added.
Seasoned academics said a lack of respect of students for their
teachers, declining cultural activities on the campus, and
politicians' self-serving desires play important roles in making
space for violent politics on the campus.
teachers, declining cultural activities on the campus, and
politicians' self-serving desires play important roles in making
space for violent politics on the campus.
"Political parties are using student organisations to achieve their
narrow political agenda on the campus," said Dr Mainul Islam,
an economics teacher at CU.
narrow political agenda on the campus," said Dr Mainul Islam,
an economics teacher at CU.
Politicians are not showing the leaders of student organisations
the right path, said Dr Sikander Khan, vice chancellor of East
Delta University (EDU) in Chittagong also a former teacher
and a proctor at CU.
the right path, said Dr Sikander Khan, vice chancellor of East
Delta University (EDU) in Chittagong also a former teacher
and a proctor at CU.
In the early 1970s whenever the teachers forbade the students
to do something they used to obey it, he said adding, "That
relationship between teachers and students has been worsening."
to do something they used to obey it, he said adding, "That
relationship between teachers and students has been worsening."
"The teachers are failing to keep their students involved in
academic activities due to a lack of their moral strength as
well, as many of them are negligent in doing their regular
duties like going to the classes regularly and doing
researches," said Sikander Khan.
academic activities due to a lack of their moral strength as
well, as many of them are negligent in doing their regular
duties like going to the classes regularly and doing
researches," said Sikander Khan.
Prof Anwarul Azim Arif, vice chancellor of CU, said,
"The university authorities are holding talks with the
student organisations to avoid further untoward incidents
on the campus."
"The university authorities are holding talks with the
student organisations to avoid further untoward incidents
on the campus."
Mamunul Haque, CU unit president of BCL, said, "Islami
Chhatra Shibir began violent activities on the campus
in 1986. Now they are trying to foil the trial
of war criminals by creating unrest on the campus again."
Chhatra Shibir began violent activities on the campus
in 1986. Now they are trying to foil the trial
of war criminals by creating unrest on the campus again."
Badiul Alam, CU unit president of Shibir, blamed the authorities
of the university for their failure to handle previous incidents of violence.
of the university for their failure to handle previous incidents of violence.
"If exemplary punishments were meted out to the criminals
of previous killings, the incidents would not be repeated," he said.
of previous killings, the incidents would not be repeated," he said.
Several probe committees were formed after incidents
of killings, but no probe report has been published yet,
said the sources.
of killings, but no probe report has been published yet,
said the sources.
"As an autonomous body, the university can take
decisions as per recommendations of the probe
reports without making those public," said
AHM Selim Ullah, assistant proctor at CU.
decisions as per recommendations of the probe
reports without making those public," said
AHM Selim Ullah, assistant proctor at CU.
The immediate past proctor of CU, Dr Nasim Hasan,
said, "The university authorities take actions according
to the university ordinance for small clashes while actions
are taken as per the country's general laws in cases of big incidents."
said, "The university authorities take actions according
to the university ordinance for small clashes while actions
are taken as per the country's general laws in cases of big incidents."
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