Curbing terrorism on campus

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered 'proper steps' against anyone involved in acts of terrorism in educational institutions irrespective of his/her political affiliation. Her directive came four days after a deadly clash between two groups of the Bangladesh Chhatra League - the ruling Awami League's student wing -- at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology which left a BCL activist dead.
Bangladesh hardly saw any growth of healthy student politics. Instead, what the students did in 1952, 1960s, 1971 and 1990s were much bolder and glorious than today's bloody student politics. Though the students used different political forums, they were united in serving their nation in its most trying times for the sake of national interest and democratisation.
Students' active participation in politics began in the 20th century when Bangladesh was fighting for its freedom. They were young and were easily enthused to join mass movements at the drop of a hat. Political parties at that time enlisted the support of young students who organised themselves happily to help one party or the other. However, once independence was won, it was to be reconsidered whether students should be allowed or encouraged to enter politics.
Some sections of society have now started feeling that students should stay away from politics and concentrate on their studies only. With society debating this issue, politicians took the younger generation as their 'energy tanks'.
The present situation in Bangladesh thus sees a keen struggle of political parties in enlisting support of students. This obviously has resulted in students getting sharply divided as if they were of this political party or that; so much so that even the campus elections become tainted with a touch of national politics.
There is of course nothing without advantages and disadvantages. Student politics is no exception. Disadvantages, however, outweigh advantages thereof. Firstly, while students enter colleges for studies, they get distracted from their prime objective and become entangled in dirty game of politics. The energy and time they drain out or waste in energising national political moves could well be used for studies. Thus entry of politics into the campuses has already caused serious harm to a few students who have been rusticated owing to their active participation in political vandalism.
Politics has seemingly taught students to put an end to all rules and regulations and become rowdy and violent. This has led to closure of many institutions which again has taken a toll on students' study time. There is too much of hooliganism in educational institutions because sharing of monetary gains through admission business or manipulating results. Even the police had to be called in sometimes and there is an utter disorder on the campus. Bullets have found their ways into the campuses to attain political domination.
The advantages of student politics do exist but these are very few and hardly significant. Students entering politics learn the art of public speaking. They learn to be assertive and impressive. This is a good stepping-stone to the art of leadership. The important and real advantage is that students in prime years of their lives gain a lot of knowledge of politics.
But after studying the pros and cons of students' participation in politics, disadvantages appear to be more damaging than the gains acquired. All the advantages students gain can as well be achieved in later days after they complete their studies. Students must stay away from politics as they attend schools, colleges and universities only to study to build their future careers, not only to groom themselves as future politicians.
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