THE clash between the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and the Students Against Discrimination, which led the July-August uprising that toppled the Awami League government, at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology on February 18 is shocking. The clash, which reportedly broke out over an altercation centring on banning student politics on the campus, left more than two dozen injured. The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Students Against Discrimination and the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Bangladesh Jaamat-e-Islami, have, meanwhile, continued to trade blame for the clash, which was also joined in by outsiders, especially Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal activists. Photographs of some activists of the Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal wielding sharp weapons did rounds on social media. The Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal is reported to have expelled one member of the local unit. What makes the incident particularly shocking is that campus violence and the involvement of activists of the now-banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, marked the 15 years of AL鈥檚 authoritarian rule. Even the July uprising was forced into violence largely by the Chhatra League that attacked students protesters in universities.
Campus violence and atrocious criminal activities committed by the Chhatra League were largely responsible for a decline in the academic environment and created a negative impression of student politics. In the changed political context, it was hoped that the student organisations and student wings of political parties would learn from the mistakes that the now-banned Chhatra League made and chart out ways for student politics that will speak for the students, their rights and the country. The Khulna incident, which has forced the authorities to close the institution and postpone all academic activities till February 28, shows that the student organisations are yet to learn their lessons. The student organisations are yet to learn that hooliganism and violence in the name of politics is not student politics. The demand among a section of students, guardians and educationalists for banning student politics or delinking student organisations from mainstream political parties is, in reality, a grudge, totally justified, against the political culture that has exploited the students for partisan gains, not against student politics per se, which is what makes students informed, politically aware and agents of progress. It is the student politics and leadership that have paved the way for all major political changes.
Student organisations and student wings of political parties, therefore, need to review their courses and commit to politics that is not destructive and violent. The authorities, meanwhile, should take action against all responsible for the Khulna incident.