Student wings set example for national leaders

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) - student fronts of ruling BNP and opposition Awami League -- have reached an unusual consensus to carry out their respective political activities side by side at Chittagong Medical College (CMC).

Following the decision, BCL was allowed to bring out a mourning procession marking the 31st death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 on the CMC campus that remained inaccessible to the BCL men for around five years since the present alliance government assumed the power.

Leaders, activists and supporters of different student organisations as well as the general students of CMC welcomed the decision, which they regard as a "noble reconciliation" and an instance of "tolerance of others view" that would create a congenial atmosphere for student politics on the campus.

Immediately after the ruling alliance came to power BCL leaders and workers left the campus fearing attack by JCD and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) cadres, bringing a halt to its activities, sources said.

"Around eight of our leaders and activists, including former CMC Student Union (CMCSU) vice president (VP) Abdus Sattar and CMC unit president Abdul Alim, were assaulted by the Shibir and JCD cadres on October 4 in 2001," said newly formed BCL CMC unit committee convener Ripon Das. "Twenty-five BCL activists were compelled to leave the campus," he added.

All of them lost about six months to one and a half years of their academic careers. Many entered the campus only after paying Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000 each to influential JCD leaders of the college under a deal, Ripon added.

"We want to resume our politics on the campus again as many new students have joined our organisation as members during the last two years and they are eager to start activities, said one joint convener of the 71-member committee on condition of anonymity.

Present JCD leaders also showed tolerance and cooperative attitude to the BCL move, he added.

JCD leaders said they agree with the BCL proposal for resuming their activities on the campus as a sign of democratic norms.

Abdul Matin, CMCSU vice-president and JCD leader, said, "We welcomed them and helped when they approached us of organising a mourning procession on August 15. We want to establish politics of tolerance and coexistence as it exists at Dhaka University and other educational institutions."

"We want to stop such a narrowness of politics that instigates activists or leaders of one party to destroy the academic life of their classmates' of other organisatins," said CMCSU Pro-VP Sohag, also a JCD leader.

Asif, a third year MBBS student of the college said ill practice of student politics hampered study of many students at CMC and we should stop it.

Suparna Dey, a 4th year MBBS student, said if all the student organisations are allowed to carry out their respective political activities side by side for at least one year then CMC campus will be able to present a congenial atmosphere.

Asked about the initiative taken just before the upcoming national election, Matin said they would have welcomed the proposal the same way if the BCL leaders could have made it earlier.

Ripon said they started the process few months ago and it needed some time to take preparation.

Debabrata Roy, CMC unit president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU), said the initiative might help remove the unwanted situation on the campus.

CMC unit Shibir President Masud Rana, however, said they have no headache about resuming the BCL activities on the campus.

"We are mainly concerned about ensuring congenial atmosphere on the campus and we will not tolerate any attempt that threatens the existing atmosphere, he added.