IT IS alarming that fresh tensions are erupting almost every day across the country, with clashes making frequent headlines. On August 31, incidents of violence occurred at three universities — the University of Chittagong, the University of Rajshahi, and Bangladesh Agricultural University. At the University of Chittagong, clashes between students and local residents, which began on the night of August 30 and continued intermittently throughout August 31, left at least 300 people — most of them students — injured, with at least three in critical condition. The outbreak of violence compelled the university administration to suspend all academic activities, while the local authorities imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. What is particularly disturbing is the delayed response of law enforcement agencies. Although the clash began on the night of August 30, following the alleged harassment and assault of a first-year female student by a building guard near CU’s Gate-2 bazaar area, the police apparently failed to prevent the violence. Reinforcements — police and army personnel — could not be deployed until 4.00pm on August 31. The pro-vice-chancellor of the university, who was himself injured in the confrontation, also alleged that timely support from law enforcement was lacking.
On the same day, a group of outsiders attacked demonstrating students at Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. The students had earlier confined more than 200 teachers, pressing their demand for a combined degree for two faculties — veterinary science and animal husbandry. Meanwhile, tension escalated at the University of Rajshahi, where different student groups, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, clashed and staged protests against each other over the inclusion of first-year students in the student union elections. Though the clashes at the three universities appear to have been triggered by different immediate causes, such violent incidents and ensuing tensions on campuses are a deeply troubling sign and are difficult to interpret as politically innocent. The earlier attack on Gono Odhikar Parishad president, Nurul Haque Nur, on August 29 — carried out by police and army personnel during a clash between activists of the Jatiya Party and the Gono Odhikar Parishad in front of the JP central office in Dhaka — also cannot be considered a politically innocent occurrence. At a time when the country is at a crossroads and moving towards national elections, such clashes and tensions have serious political ramifications and therefore warrant urgent attention and swift resolution.
The government and the university administrations cannot shirk their responsibility for the persistent unrest on the streets and campuses. The authorities must conduct thorough investigations into the incidents and bring all those responsible to justice. The government, at the same time, must remain vigilant to ensure that no quarters are allowed to destabilise the political processes or obstruct the conduct of the national election that lies ahead for the country.
