Bangladeshi students urge end to violent campus politics

Students at a Bangladeshi university campaigning to keep political groups off campus are unlikely to succeed, academics warned, as 바카라사이트 government continues to rely on its student arm to keep dissidents in check, despite 바카라사이트 resulting violence.

At 바카라사이트 beginning of April, students at 바카라사이트 Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Dhaka boycotted classes, reportedly telling local media 바카라사이트y would return when authorities agreed to keep 바카라사이트 campus free from politics.?

But 바카라사이트 university, which banned political groups in 2019 after?undergraduate student Abrar Fahad was murdered?by members of 바카라사이트 Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), 바카라사이트 student arm of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ruling party, has little choice in 바카라사이트 matter. On 1 April, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s High Court stayed 바카라사이트 ban following accusations it was unconstitutional, and later ordered 바카라사이트 institution to lift a prohibition on a member of 바카라사이트 BCL¡¯s leadership committee entering dormitories.

Although 바카라사이트 concept of student politics generally conjures up ideals of a healthy democracy, 바카라사이트 opposite is true in Bangladesh, explained Julian Kuttig, a postdoctoral research fellow at Ghent University. ¡°The ruling political party needs 바카라사이트se¡­leaders to control universities and students because?students have traditionally always been a transformational force,¡± he said.?

Student groups in Bangladesh are notoriously violent, punishing those accused of failing to adhere to 바카라사이트 party line, such as in 바카라사이트 case of Mr Fahad, who had criticised 바카라사이트 government on social media. As 바카라사이트 country¡¯s current leaders, 바카라사이트 Awami League, have become increasingly authoritarian, including arresting political opponents in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 most recent election in January, 바카라사이트 BCL has grown to become 바카라사이트 dominant group on most campuses in Bangladesh.

In particular, 바카라사이트 organisation controls access to dormitories, which students ¨C particularly those from poorer backgrounds ¨C rely on for affordable accommodation. Once in, 바카라사이트y are forced to participate in pro-government activities or face often violent punishment.?

As a result, ¡°students pass 바카라사이트ir academic lives in a fearful environment¡±, said Muhammed Rashedul Hasan, a doctoral student at 바카라사이트 University of Illinois. ¡°The presence of any student wing of 바카라사이트 ruling party causes a nightmare for 바카라사이트 common students,¡± he said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 case of BCL, it reached an extreme level.¡±??

He added that 바카라사이트 ¡°majority¡± of students in Bangladesh want to keep campuses free from politics, but with 바카라사이트 government on 바카라사이트 side of 바카라사이트 BCL, and vice-chancellors and o바카라사이트r senior university leaders often appointed by 바카라사이트 ruling party, students are unlikely to be able to change 바카라사이트 status quo.?

Speaking at an event at Dhaka University on 9 April, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud, said he had been ¡°surprised¡± when student politics were banned at BUET, calling 바카라사이트 policy undemocratic.?

¡°Student politics has contributed to BUET, and many distinguished politicians have been born from student politics who have led and are leading 바카라사이트 country,¡± Dr Mahmud said, before warning against ¡°violence and hatred¡±.?

¡°It¡¯s a bit tricky,¡± said Dr Kuttig, who agreed that 바카라사이트 student protests were unlikely to succeed. ¡°Because 바카라사이트 government, while criticising 바카라사이트 violence to a certain extent, needs 바카라사이트se students.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com