Feature

The motto of student politics should be to represent the students in the movement for their legitimate rights. They should form opinions about what can be done to improve different education related activities like library, IT and other legitimate demands.

As we know, a few days back violence erupted in the Jagannath University campus leading to its closure on 28 January. But what was the movement for? Who came onto the streets? Why did the students provoke the anger and brutality of the police? We need to explore these questions.

Jagannath University was established in 2005 abolishing Jagannath College and all the properties of Jagannath College were declared to be the assets of the University. It had 12 dormitories that are supposed to be the property of the University. But in reality only a part of the Bani Hall is under control of the University and the rest are controlled by different influential people. The University authorities sent letters to different ministries to take steps for regaining the halls. But neither the authorities nor the ministries took any steps.

Waiting for four long years from 2005 to 2009, the students came out to the streets to get their dormitories back. But while moving for this significant legitimate right they had to suffer the brunt of tear shells, battle charge and rubber bullets. It is known that of those twelve dormitories three are under the control of the police. Is this the reason why the police got so furious with the students? While the police forces are seen to be the silent spectators when the campus is the stage for political violence, they use their muscles to only intimidate the general students. If the university authorities don't get control of their halls where will the students live? On streets?

I believe that closing the campus is not a solution. The university authorities and related government agencies should come forward to resolve the crisis as early as possible and begin the classes at the earliest possible date. We don't want our fellow mates to be the frustrated victims of the dreaded words 'Session Jam'.

We also expect to witness a campus that is devoid of political violence and students will get the proper environment for education. Students are the foundation of a nation. It is high time that our political leaders take lessons from the past and rethink about the prevailing political culture.

(The writer is a student of the Department of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University.)