Loss of dreams

The killing of BUET student Abrar Fahad has exposed an absence of atmosphere for healthy growth of youth on the campus. Ordinary students could hardly exercise their freedom of thinking, let alone protest at torture of another fellow. Old students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) wrote in a Bangla daily that when Abrar was beaten to death, the reputed institution itself was 'murdered'. The dream of a family surrounding education and future career of its talented child was lost forever.

Abrar's death is the result of cruelty shown by none but some other students of the same institution. All other students who joined the protest rally demanding justice for Abrar killing, eventually expressed their hatred for the killers. More than a dozen of such students who are accused of murdering Abrar, made their own families ashamed of them, despite earlier hopes of their parents. New York-based Human Rights Watch said Abrar's brutal murder highlights impunity for abuses by the powerful party cadres.

However, this killing and loss of dreams have nothing to do with education; rather it proved a lack of atmosphere that could have been conducive for learning on the campus. Bullying, intolerance to dissent and often criminal activities like extortion, dominated the dormitories. In many cases, the newcomers on the campus joined the 'seniors' who allured them with money and muscle. Such a situation remained almost the same over years. This is not something that is specific to BUET alone.

The unfortunate death of Abrar has given the wake-up call for correcting the situation on the campus in general.

The authorities of various educational institutions across the country need to take absolute responsibility of running them peacefully and efficiently and ensuring welfare of the students. The authorities did not care about financial assistance many students needed for pursuing their higher education. Somehow, those who were appointed at all top positions of public universities and other institutes have forgotten that these institutes are run by taxpayers' money and they should take initiatives for ensuring not only routine delivery of education but also its improvement and research promotion. Sadly, the appointments were made based not on merit but on partisan loyalty. It's time to bring an end to such culture. All other teachers and students themselves should renew their focus as well - these institutes are meant for education and research.

It's the right of the students to think freely and grow as enlightened citizens and future leaders. That right of each student should be upheld. We saw absence of debates and healthy, knowledge-based competition in recent times. None of the Bangladeshi universities found them among the top-ranking universities of the world. Instead of taking initiative to solve the problems of education, the authorities tried to deny the day's reality and defended their own position. The absence of proper academic atmosphere has allowed other activities that further polluted the campus. Instead of producing leaders, the campus ruined many promising youth.

When millions of students graduate and enter the job market, the employers say most of them do not qualify or they lack required skills. Such deficiency must be addressed by the educational institutions. This nation cannot afford to lose the opportunity of demographic dividends. We cannot allow loss of dreams of millions of families due to absence of peaceful campus.

Sarfuddin Ahmed

Khilgaon, Dhaka