The JCD supporters also assaulted the university correspondent of The Daily Star -- again an inexplicable wreaking of wrath on a wrong target. The journalist was simply discharging his professional duties when he came under the JCD attack. It was far from an attack on an individual and was indicative of the general mood of the JCD activists apparently ready to go to any length to muzzle the press. How else could it be explained?

Now, there are those, and their number is pretty large, who might not be interested in the political intricacies of the issue. But their stake in it is still very high. The general students and their guardians can only feel upset when the university turns into a hotbed of violent student politics. Nobody wants the highest seat of learning to degenerate into a place for show of muscle power. This intractable politicisation of a sacred institution having a glorious past is most undesirable.

There are, however, some developments that might bring a modicum of relief to all and sundry. First, the university authorities have formed two committees to investigate the incidents that took place on Thursday. Obviously, the attacks on the BCL supporters and a pressman could only bring disgrace to the university, still struggling to erase the rankling memories of the bloody clashes between rival groups that cost several lives in the last two decades or so. Second, the JCD general secretary has promised disciplinary action against the unruly elements that attacked the Star correspondent. We hope his words will be translated into tangible action.

Elimination of rowdism from the campus is needed not only to forge a tolerant political culture, but also to make sure that the academic atmosphere on the campus is not spoiled by raucous activities on the part of highly politicised groups of students and, regrettably enough, outsiders.