Enforcing some real action against the student culprits
Monday, 10 May 2010
Shamsher Chowdhury
I am somewhat confused about the administration's failure to deal with the rising incidence of vandalism by the students' front of the main ruling party in all its horrific dimensions. I am afraid with the passing of time the situation may become irreversible. Other things being as they are, the record of the government's achievements in real terms in doing good for the common man of the country does not seem to be that attractive; far from it, it appears to be rather poor. With all honesty I believe the most dominating factor that is hurting the image of the country most is this continued flagrant acts of violence and vandalism by the Chatra League. It is mind-boggling to see that despite stern warnings by none other than the Prime Minister and the Home Minister against such acts, the situation seems to be getting worse. Umpteen excuses have been provided from all quarters of the government as to how undesirable elements having no connection with the Chatra League had infiltrated into the party's student front etc., that led to the existing state of affairs. Even if I am to mistrust half of the country's media agencies I have a hard time buying that.
Even if there is any merit in that claim, which is to blame, it is none other than the Chatra League itself. I have often read in the media about heinous acts of the Chatra Shibir that shocked and made me angry, too. But then, it is twice shocking to see what the Chatra League is indulging in. If adequate measures are not taken to stop the situation from further deterioration and exemplary punishment meted out to the culprits, a time shall come when people may begin to equate activities of the Chatra League with that of the Shibir or any other student wing of other political parties. May I ask if the rapes by the Chatra League are in any way better than the Shibir's crime of the cutting the tendons of opposing student cadres of any other political party? In my judgment, raping of the women is the worst crime.
It is not a question of what other student bodies are doing or did; it is the government's responsibility to keep the society free from such ugly, criminal and sinful acts more so when it involves its own cadres.
I am rather suspicious of the fact that such acts could not flourish in such an extended level without the "blessings'' of some powerful elements from within the government over which the administration has little or no control and hence unwilling to "meddle" with them. The ruling party alone has the answer to that.
I take the view that if the government is capable of dealing with such volatile and complicated issues of high public interests like the Crimes against Humanity and the BDR trial, how come, it is unable to effectively deal with the Chatra League issue?
Has the administration ever taken into consideration of the fact that the Chatra League's actions not only go beyond the high criminal acts but also desecrate the very academic environment of our prime educational institutions.
It is human nature to remember one's follies and bad deeds and not the good deeds. Admittedly the Chatra League has the glorious legacy of playing lead roles in all our movements against despotic rulers and social injustices. We all remember the role of the Chatra League and the students' community in general, their bravery and supreme sacrifices during our war of liberation. Be that as it may, we should also remember that times have changed.
May I most humbly put it that those compulsions do not exist today. On the other hand, the entire society, including the student community, has since then undergone dramatic changes in the value systems in general. In that respect, the Chatra League is no different. Today I recall that famous line from Shakespeare's immortal play Julius Caesar: "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones". I am tempted to go on record to state that student bodies of other parties do not have saints in their folds either but the truth remains that the Chatra League has carried things too far.
It is my impression that the Chatra League as a student wing of the Awami League has indeed outlived its purpose. Merely the slogan of "Dhele Shajao" will not work. Serious considerations should be given to its total disbanding. The ruling party has to take the first step in this regard, irrespective of what action other parties may or may not take. Any so-called "student organization," big or small, that indulges in money making, muscle power and such social evils and criminal acts like rapes is bound to outlive its own existence and those associated with it.
Postscript: I wonder how important is it for the political parties, particularly for the Awami League, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, to have such affiliated student organizations? I find it interesting that we hardly come across any instance of intra-fight among the Shibir cadres. Is it because that they have never deviated from their final goal and objective ever, right or wrong, and have remained absolutely united? Once the student bodies of the two major parties are dismantled, the Shibir will be isolated and the image of both the Awami League and the BNP will emerge stronger as political parties. Do seriously ponder on this aspect, too.
The writer can be reached at e-mail : chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com
I am somewhat confused about the administration's failure to deal with the rising incidence of vandalism by the students' front of the main ruling party in all its horrific dimensions. I am afraid with the passing of time the situation may become irreversible. Other things being as they are, the record of the government's achievements in real terms in doing good for the common man of the country does not seem to be that attractive; far from it, it appears to be rather poor. With all honesty I believe the most dominating factor that is hurting the image of the country most is this continued flagrant acts of violence and vandalism by the Chatra League. It is mind-boggling to see that despite stern warnings by none other than the Prime Minister and the Home Minister against such acts, the situation seems to be getting worse. Umpteen excuses have been provided from all quarters of the government as to how undesirable elements having no connection with the Chatra League had infiltrated into the party's student front etc., that led to the existing state of affairs. Even if I am to mistrust half of the country's media agencies I have a hard time buying that.
Even if there is any merit in that claim, which is to blame, it is none other than the Chatra League itself. I have often read in the media about heinous acts of the Chatra Shibir that shocked and made me angry, too. But then, it is twice shocking to see what the Chatra League is indulging in. If adequate measures are not taken to stop the situation from further deterioration and exemplary punishment meted out to the culprits, a time shall come when people may begin to equate activities of the Chatra League with that of the Shibir or any other student wing of other political parties. May I ask if the rapes by the Chatra League are in any way better than the Shibir's crime of the cutting the tendons of opposing student cadres of any other political party? In my judgment, raping of the women is the worst crime.
It is not a question of what other student bodies are doing or did; it is the government's responsibility to keep the society free from such ugly, criminal and sinful acts more so when it involves its own cadres.
I am rather suspicious of the fact that such acts could not flourish in such an extended level without the "blessings'' of some powerful elements from within the government over which the administration has little or no control and hence unwilling to "meddle" with them. The ruling party alone has the answer to that.
I take the view that if the government is capable of dealing with such volatile and complicated issues of high public interests like the Crimes against Humanity and the BDR trial, how come, it is unable to effectively deal with the Chatra League issue?
Has the administration ever taken into consideration of the fact that the Chatra League's actions not only go beyond the high criminal acts but also desecrate the very academic environment of our prime educational institutions.
It is human nature to remember one's follies and bad deeds and not the good deeds. Admittedly the Chatra League has the glorious legacy of playing lead roles in all our movements against despotic rulers and social injustices. We all remember the role of the Chatra League and the students' community in general, their bravery and supreme sacrifices during our war of liberation. Be that as it may, we should also remember that times have changed.
May I most humbly put it that those compulsions do not exist today. On the other hand, the entire society, including the student community, has since then undergone dramatic changes in the value systems in general. In that respect, the Chatra League is no different. Today I recall that famous line from Shakespeare's immortal play Julius Caesar: "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones". I am tempted to go on record to state that student bodies of other parties do not have saints in their folds either but the truth remains that the Chatra League has carried things too far.
It is my impression that the Chatra League as a student wing of the Awami League has indeed outlived its purpose. Merely the slogan of "Dhele Shajao" will not work. Serious considerations should be given to its total disbanding. The ruling party has to take the first step in this regard, irrespective of what action other parties may or may not take. Any so-called "student organization," big or small, that indulges in money making, muscle power and such social evils and criminal acts like rapes is bound to outlive its own existence and those associated with it.
Postscript: I wonder how important is it for the political parties, particularly for the Awami League, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, to have such affiliated student organizations? I find it interesting that we hardly come across any instance of intra-fight among the Shibir cadres. Is it because that they have never deviated from their final goal and objective ever, right or wrong, and have remained absolutely united? Once the student bodies of the two major parties are dismantled, the Shibir will be isolated and the image of both the Awami League and the BNP will emerge stronger as political parties. Do seriously ponder on this aspect, too.
The writer can be reached at e-mail : chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com