Another brutal attack by BCL members

Disciplinary action called for

Rajshahi Government College student Golam Mawla lies unconscious on the college ground on Wednesday after several BCL men brutalised his face with a hammer. The student lay near the college pond, beaten senseless, for a while but no one came to his aid “out of fear”. Later, a number of teachers rescued him and sent him to a hospital, where he is being treated. Photo: Star

The barbaric attack on a second year student of Rajshahi Government College by some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists has left us shocked and outraged. The young man was mercilessly hit with a hammer leaving him severely injured. The victim was left senseless and no one dared to come to his rescue, as is evident from the picture published in this paper on March 3 that showed some young men leering away shamelessly at his still form lying on the grass.

We thank the faculty members who finally gathered around and sent Golam Mawla to the hospital; he needed multiple stitches to his battered face. His family is also worried that his injuries may incapacitate him so much that he may not be able to continue his studies. So what is holding up the immediate expulsion of these so-called students from the student body they belong to? Not a week goes by when we are left free from reporting on excesses of the BCL because they display no respect either for their fellow students or the rule of law.

No matter what the point of contention was between the victim and his attackers, such barbarism is intolerable. We expect the university authorities to be firm in their decision in identifying persons involved (as the campus is under CCTV coverage) and cancel their studentship from the university. Such a heinous attack actually warrants legal action to be taken against the attackers.

When will the BCL leadership rein in these aggressive, violence-prone elements within its organisation that only serve to tarnish the image of the student body and ultimately the ruling party? We believe that Awami League's central leadership has a major role to play in this matter because some BCL members are simply out of control and they can only be brought to heel if the party takes a tough stance on the issue.