We need healthy politics

As a graduate of the erstwhile Ahsanullah Engineering College (which became BUET later on), I would like to profusely thank Md Mizanur Rahman Himadri for his eloquent Op-Ed piece “SONY: Don't think we are dead” (TDS, 20.6.2015). The loss of an innocent life killed in cross-fire between feuding factions of the then ruling party activists, the fact that the perpetrators have not been brought to justice even a decade after. 

Every ruling party since 1991 has relied on the muscle power provided by their student and youth wings in the wrong-headed thinking that they are needed for winning the next election. Plenty of editorials have been written urging the authorities to rein in their so-called activists. But nobody listened.  People expressed their frustration by throwing out the incumbent party at every opportunity except the 5th January, 2014 election which remains controversial. 

The simple truth is, the way to win consecutive elections is good governance and not through muscle power and tolerating misdeeds. 

Not holding elections in student bodies for fear of losing them also contributed to the malaise. Leaders of tomorrow grow up through exercise of healthy politics in the universities. Sabequn Nahar Sony's death would not be in vain if our leaders learn the simple truths. 

Engr. ABM Nurul Islam, Milton, GA 30004, USA