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Student politics in Bangladesh

Introduction: Bangladesh, since its emergence as an independent state has undergone a tumultuous record of political history. It has experimented in 27 years of its existence a verity of political systems.i The student affiliates of the major political parties have always had a major hand in the decades long perverse politicking in Bangladesh. None can deny the historical role of the students for the independence of Bangladesh. The Bengalis are probably the only nation which gets its complete shape from the very leadership of students. But so-called student politics now is a death trap in Bangladesh. The present kind of student politics is a colossal wastage for the whole nation. All the sufferers know how diabolical the behavior of the student political entities can be. Student politics in Bangladesh is diametrically opposite to what real student politics should be. It does not deserve any support from any corner - legally morally, and ethically. The common people of Bangladesh do not want to see so called student politics at all. We have to remember that political rights are not absolute and are subject to many reasonable restrictions of public policy. The political parties, devoid of sound theories and pragmatism of politics, deliberately nourish and patronize unhealthy student politics only for their vested interest, setting aside the greater interest of the nation.ii Its time to redefine student politics in Bangladesh.
Student politics of Bangladesh: Generally the politics in which the students play chief role is

known to us as student politics. In Bangladesh student politics is existed. But the present student politics of Bangladesh is quite ill. It needs treatment. Brilliant students have to come in the field of this politics. In 1952, 1969, 1971 students played vital role to save this motherland & language. At that time student politics was used for the welfare of country. Most brilliant students leaded at that time. In those days there was no quarrel among the student politicians for money & power as of today. Its our bad luck that a big portion of student politics has been spoiled at present.iii

Bangladesh Students politics history: Students are a component of civil society who can lead the nation towards sustainable development. From time immemorial the student community has been playing an important and unparalleled role in nation building.iv Bangladesh has a long history of intense student protest surrounding national politics. Students in Bangladesh have led major political movements and helped dictate the course of Bangladesh politics. The history of student involvement in Bangladesh politics dates back to the first nationalist movements of the former East Pakistan. The movement known as the Bengali Language Movement was led by student protesters refusing to give up their rights. As a result of growing tensions in Bangladesh surrounding the declaration of Urdu as the national language, governmental forces banned all public demonstrations. In 1952, student protests at Dhaka University challenging Pakistani politics led to police attacking the demonstrators and killing three students. Their death galvanized Bangladesh nationalism and started a long trend of student activism in politics.v Students have played a leading role in national political movements in Bangladesh, including the 1952 campaign to make Bengali a state language in what was then East Pakistan, and the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.vi We have been hearing about the glory of Bangladesh student politics since our childhood but unfortunately that struggle has lost all signs of its industrious past. Students role in the language movement obviously ranks as historic; the uprisings of 62, 66 and 69 had solid contributions in strengthening the Bengali nations pilgrimage towards freedom. Student participation in the struggle for freedom in 1971 will be ever recognized as an act of selflessness. Even the mass movement of the 90s, which paved the way to democracy, is witness to the role of All Parties Student Alliance in toppling down the military regime of General Ershad. For a motherland in distress, students had to respond in national interest, leave classrooms and take up rifles. After the fight for freedom was won in 1971, they had no more reason to keep carrying arms. Those active in 1990 used their unity alone to stand up for democracy, and like the student leaders and activists of 52 and 71 they even managed to pursue professional careers. Student politics was never a barrier for them in acquiring good education, even though many faced the wrath of British and later Pakistani rulers in the forms of detention and torture. Yet, they knew their struggle had to be two-pronged: one for freedom and the other to earn education in order to serve their nation and their lives.viiBangladesh never had real student politics. Instead,

what the student community did in 1952, the 1960s, 1971 and 1990 was much bigger, bolder and glorious than real student politics. Present condition of student politics in our country: Most recently, much of this activity in politics has turned violent, and students no longer inspire movements but encourage turmoil. It seems in recent years Bangladesh students have become as jaded by partisan politics as their fore bearers. Bangladesh student leaders tend to go back and forth between practical demonstration and inspiring mass violence. The politics of these student groups seem to be passed down from either prominent political party, demonstrating obedience to party politics more than genuine grassroots demonstrations. Bangladeshs three main political parties have strong student wings, which they fund and allegedly arm with swords and even old guns. Student leaders involved in politics have been jailed without the constitutionally mandated trials for years at a time, while others have even been murdered in cold blood. Since the recent restitution of Bangladesh government elections after widespread corruption, it appears some of the fanaticism in student politics has started to fade. However, when the army-backed interim government first disallowed political activity while they sorted out the rampant violence and corruption, students in Universities country-wide began to protest. Although the repression of rights by a governmental body should not be blindly accepted, the function of student politics morphed into violence. Active demonstration turned into extreme destruction as at least 200 individuals were hurt or killed and millions of dollars in property were destroyed. Now at the university, everything from getting a dorm bed to enrolling in a decent course is run by student political bodies. All the student wings have the power to shut down Dhaka University's campus if they call a strike, and can cancel examinations - which delays the graduation of tens of thousands of students. The recent activities of student politics in Bangladesh are not indicative of a problem with youth, but rather, a lack of vision by elected officials.viii After independence, dozens of students and non-students have been murdered in educational institutions due to campus violence triggered by venomous political parties' student wings. Students claim that student leaders act like gangsters on campus, by eating at campus canteens for free, keeping the best student rooms and facilities for themselves and harassing professors or students who try to oppose them. Real student politics negotiates for enhancing research

facilities, ensuring regular class and accommodation facilities, increasing the number of books in the library, organizing seminars, symposia, presentations, debate etc. But these are bygone, historical memories in Bangladesh. If we compare the student leaders of 71 to those of 90 degradation will emerge as the shocking truth. After the 9th parliamentary election, anarchy in the educational institutions seem to be an everyday affair. Most higher educational institutions are closed sine die for violence and vandalism created by different sections of student wings. The universities are turning into a battle field with mediaeval barbarism to kill or cause grievous hurt to fellow students. The hapless parents count the moments with great anxiety, whether their beloved offspring would come home after completion of education within the stipulated time, or be a dead body sacrificed at the altar of sick student politics which snatch two to three years from the life of every student due to session jam. The character that the present student politics takes up not only is worrying for the present but it is more worrying for the future thinking that what type of leadership is waiting for us in the future. Poor parents start counting beads for better days just after sending their son/daughter to the university. We have to remember that political rights are not absolute and are subject to many reasonable restrictions of public policy. Many public universities insist on a non-political campus. Hence the constitution and constitutional explanation would not bar the proposal for banning the present anti-development, anti-enlightenment politics of students.ix Victims of this Brutal Politics: Bangladesh had a proud history of student involvement in politics, but in recent years the violence among opposing groups has wrecked campus life. Dhaka University, the countrys largest and most respected institute with some 30,000 students was at the heart of the struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971. But now at the university, everything from getting a bed at the dormitory to enrolling in a decent course is controlled by student political bodies. Student politics has become so polluted in Bangladesh that it is now working against the students interests, said Serajul Islam Choudhury, a professor emeritus at the university.

In 3 march, 1992 a student leader Razu (23) was killed in DU campus. That was a most discussing matter in student politics. DHAKA, Tuesday 17 August 2010, HISTORY student Abubakar Siddique, 21, was in his dormitory room on Dhaka Universitys campus in February when a sharp object flew through a window and dealt him a blow on the back of the head. Siddique, a farm laborers son who dreamt of being a teacher, died soon after a victim of savage clashes between rival student groups at the university in recent years. The latest event in the continuous violence in the campuses is the closure of Barisal Medical College for kidnapping of a student due to intra-party conflicts of BCL. The college was closed sine die and the political activities of BCL have been suspended for 3 months. Few weeks back a student of Dhaka Medical College was killed by his fellows of the same student front. Around 60 incidents of clashes among the student wings of different political parties have taken place on RU campus since 1971, which left 28 people killed and over 2,100 injured, sources in the RU administration said. To come out of this quagmire, the student politics must be dissociated from the mainstream politics, must be dissociated from business interests, mainly confined to the benefits of the students and only regular students would be allowed to do politics in the campus. A line is needed to be drawn between the campus politics and politics outside the campus. Effects of Banning Student Politics: The government and university authorities fail miserably to deliver the responsibility of maintaining the peaceful academic atmosphere in the campuses and to continue the academic exercises unhindered. It is time to rethink about the student politics in Bangladesh. Banning student politics is not the answer. A debate is needed to be created among the citizens how to contain violence in the campus and a dialogue is needed to develop among different political groups for coming to a consensus regarding the form of student politics in the country and a thorough discussion of the issue is needed to be made in the parliament to define the form of student politics in Bangladesh.xThe banning of student politics may result in many hazards and anomalies including the following :

1) The student would not get the scope to culture politics, where as this culture is essential for the wellbeing of the country. 2) The management of educational institutions may find it difficult to manage the students.xi Ways to Solve: Bangladesh's army-backed interim government wants to ban university students and teachers from joining political parties as part of its campaign to crack down on corruption. Student politics cannot be banned or throttled by making laws.xiiStudents in politics have to be made to return to their classrooms and laboratories: the nation yearns for their contribution to development. This doesnt, however, mean that the youth should become de-politicized bookworms.xiii a) In July, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament the government would now take a zero tolerance approach to campus violence, urging law enforcement officials to crack down on runaway student wings. Hasina orders the Law and Order authorities to take stern action against the disturbing students who are responsible for violence in the campuses. We appreciate the moves so far taken by the Prime Minister but these moves didnt prove enough to quell the tension in the academic institutions. b) Student politics is also associated with the teachers politics. To clean the student politics teachers politics is also need to be reoriented. The teachers should dissociated themselves from mainstream politics in the campus and should not use the students to keep their influence in the campus intact.xiv c) The best solution is to introduce controlled student politics having no relation with the national political parties in the educational institutions. DUCSU should have a subcommittee headed by a female student who looks into problems relating exclusively to the university's female students. The DUCSU, by appropriate institutional arrangement, should look into the following: 1) Assisting university administration in allocating hall seats justly and fairly. 2) Supporting students with disabilities. 3) Ensuring hygienic and appropriate food in the hall and campus-wide canteens. 4) Ensuring physical and sexual safety of students on campus.

5) Keeping campus clean and environment-friendly. 6) Ensuring that campus and halls remain drug-free. 7) Ensuring that the university medical establishment offers standard medical services. 8) Providing career counseling for departing students, 9) Providing photocopy, computing and electronic services, student ID and discount cards, among others. 10) A platform for open debate and discussion. 11) An opportunity for students to gain and develop journalism and newspaper management experience. We need to positively change campus politics without deviating from democratic practices. If we abruptly cut party politics on campuses, it will germinate again. Instead, we need to stop feeding it so it dies from the root. We can do this by vigorously campaigning for "real" student politics. The decline of campus party politics should not be insulting or alarming to mainstream political parties. National parties should support the rise of a non-party political regime on campuses, even if it requires temporarily neutralising their student wings.xv Conclusion: A peaceful country is the first expectations of all the citizens. However, its creation is the sole responsibility of the government. For this purpose the government should leave no stone unturned to find out the most appropriate solution. Let us hope that the government would soon find one. By following the proposal described above the present government can on one hand, continue student politics having extremely glorious past and at the same time, save the educational institutions, business houses and various government organizations from the unwanted evil activities of the hoodlums in the disguise of students.xvi Student politics should be a means to achieve freedom of choice by pursuing knowledge, expertise and wisdom. Temporary success of un-studently students is a mere recipe for lifelong darkness and lack of choice.

References:
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South Asian Studies, Political Development in Bangladesh(1991-98), Akmal Hussain, vol. 36, no.1& 2, January- December, 2001. ii The Financial Express, Dhaka, Wednesday, April 8,2009,
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sshahriar.blogspot.com/2005/03/student-politics-of-bangladesh.html The Financial Express, Dhaka, Wednesday, April 8,2009 www.bnpbd.com/bangladesh-politics-student-activism.html english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2007/04/200852513284352797.html www.e-bangladesh.org/2010/02/01/un-student-politics/ www.bnpbd.com/bangladesh-politics-student-activism.html

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The Financial Express.dhaka,Wednesday, april 8,2009 bdoza.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/students-politics-it-is-time-to-redefine-the-form/ mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2007/04/200852513284352797.html www.e-bangladesh.org/2010/02/01/un-student-politics/ (thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/8/22/education/6872936&sec=education) www.virtualbangladesh.com/bd_politics.html mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p

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