EDITORIAL
Over the last six months apolitical students, who have been pressing for their demand for reforms in the existing quota system in government jobs, were attacked by ruling party’s student cadres and activists several times for four consecutive days on the Dhaka University (DU) campus area as well as some other public varsities across the country. The incidents took place when the protesters were about to hold a press briefing to announce their next course of action as three months have passed since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unilaterally declared total abolition of the quota system.
Because of their wanton disregard for law, which is attributable to impunity, atrocious activities on campuses of all the public varsities and colleges in this Republic by violent members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)—the student wing of the ruling party Awami League—they are the most despised and much dreaded group at present. No student is allowed board and lodging in the public varsity/college dormitories unless and until s/he declares allegiance to the BCL leaders who rule the roost, absolutely.
Those challenging their boisterous bravado and command are invariably manhandled and beaten up. The victims have no scope to complain against the perpetrators as the heads of the institutions will not utter a word against the malefactors.
Some pro-quota leaders were physically assaulted and—women students were not spared. Family members of Nur, one of the injured leaders of quota reform movement, alleged that authorities of the Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital forcibly released him in the wee hours.
The Dhaka University (DU) authority on April 11, 2018 pledged support to the quota-reform movement that picked up momentum on April 8 and spread across the country.
DU VC Akhtaruzzaman said, “From my behalf and from the university’s behalf we have expressed solidarity with the movement and have asked the government to take quick measures and give assurance to the students so that they can return to normal life”. “The students have come up with some very logical points against the quota system and they have said that with changing times reform is necessary, the VC said. “From my side, I have very clearly and very strongly told the government that Dhaka University authorities, DU family and teachers are in support of the quota-reform movement,” the VC said. So far so good. But it defies logical comprehension as to why the VC has toed the official line and became a betrayer within a few days.
A faction of Dhaka University teachers staged a demonstration on the Central Shaheed Minar premises in Dhaka on July 8, 2018, demanding a campus free of repression. Condemning the attacks on general students demanding quota reforms, Dr. Serajul Islam Choudhury, professor emeritus of Dhaka University, today said the incidents that had happened are “unfortunate, shameful and unbelievable”. This did not happen during the Pakistan or British period, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reports quoting Prof. Choudhury. The professor made the remarks during a programme arranged by a faction of DU teachers at the Central Shaheed Minar premises this morning, demanding a campus free of repression. “The government was compelled to form a committee owing to the protests. But the protesters were brutally and barbarically attacked. I have never seen such brutal attack with a hammer,” he added.
“The quota-reform movement is fair and logical. For this, boys, girls, guardians and teachers have all extended their support to the quota-reform movement,” Sirajul Islam was quoted as saying according to Prothom Alo. “The government was compelled to form a committee owing to the protests. But the protesters were brutally and barbarically attacked. I have never seen such brutal attack with a hammer,” he added.
“Given the current situation, there is no security of people. Cases are being filed against those who are protesting. With today’s protest, I press my demand for quota reform,” Sirajul Islam said. Teachers under the banner of “Nipiron Birodhi Shikkhokbrindo [Teachers Against Repression]” staged a demonstration.
Cadres of the Bangladesh Chhatra League have earned the dubious distinction owing to involvement of some of them in frequent wrangle, extortion, violent crimes like rape, manslaughter and what have you since long. Even during the incumbency of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was then Prime Minister, in internecine fratricide over establishing supremacy one faction of the BCL gunned down seven members of the same party on 4 April 1974 in the Surja Sen Hall dormitory on the Dhaka University (DU) campus for the first time in the varsity’s history.
What is more, with Sheikh Hasina herself as the chief guest at the TSC in DU at the founding anniversary of the BCL on 9 January 1992, BCL activist Moniruzzaman Badal was shot dead. Afterwards until recent times some 65 murders have happened on public university and college campuses across the country.
BCL men have attacked quota reformists at least 13 times in the last three months, injuring around 68 students of four universities. But neither police nor the university authorities took action against any of the attackers. What’s even worse is some of the injured were arrested by police or allegedly driven out of hospitals while the perpetrators roamed freely on the campuses.
Some central quota reform leaders were picked up by members of Bangladesh Chhatra League and handed over to police. They were shown arrested in different cases and sent to remand. Besides, the authorities of those universities are apparently treating the quota reformists as trouble-makers, leaving them in fear of further assault and arrest.
These hark back to what German philosopher Hegel said: “The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
- Courtesy: Holiday/ Jul 15,2018
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