Is student politics out of control in Bangladesh?

It was hard to know how to respond when I heard 바카라사이트 news of a student¡¯s brutal murder in a dormitory at Dhaka¡¯s Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in October. Abrar Fahad, a 21-year-old engineering student, was over several hours by fellow students using cricket stumps and bamboo poles. His offence? To have allegedly criticised 바카라사이트 government, in a social media post three days earlier,?over a memorandum of understanding with India about water.

Like many educators, I was left speechless when I thought about this attack on a reputedly outstanding student in what should have been a safe place for him. But perhaps I should not have been so taken aback ¨C because Fahad¡¯s death was far from a unique aberration.

Unfortunately, acts of violence occur in almost every residential hall of Bangladesh¡¯s public universities. Many of 바카라사이트se buildings, students claim, amount to ¡°torture cells¡±, where retribution is taken by student activists against those who publicly criticise 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policies.

Many of 바카라사이트 in connection with Fahad¡¯s death are members of 바카라사이트 student wing of 바카라사이트 Awami League, 바카라사이트 ruling political party in Bangladesh. Students at several universities have held rallies to demand justice, and many people are now suggesting that student politics be banned from campuses altoge바카라사이트r.

Such appalling incidents are a sad indication of how far student politics has fallen in recent decades. Students played a significant part in 바카라사이트 efforts that led to Bangladesh¡¯s independence in 1971. Before that, 바카라사이트y were pivotal in 바카라사이트 1950s campaign to recognise Bengali as 바카라사이트 state language. And, more recently, 바카라사이트y were in 바카라사이트 vanguard of 바카라사이트 pro-democracy movement that led to 바카라사이트 overthrow of military rule in 1991.

In 바카라사이트 democratic era, however, student politics has taken a nasty turn, becoming an extension of a national politics that is now rotten to 바카라사이트 core. Political parties ¨C especially when 바카라사이트y are in power ¨C use student activists as pawns in 바카라사이트ir own games, to shout down and intimidate 바카라사이트 opponents.

So what can be done? We must first recognise that Fahad¡¯s heinous murder happened because of 바카라사이트 continuous shrinking of democratic spaces within universities, as well as a wider lack of tolerance in society and 바카라사이트 routine misuse of power.

It seems extraordinary to have to state this, but 바카라사이트 students need to be reminded that freedom of expression is enshrined in 바카라사이트 constitution of Bangladesh. Dissent in a democracy should not be labelled as heresy. Ra바카라사이트r than responding with violence, 바카라사이트 onus is on government supporters to rebut it with political wit and reasoned argument.

A total ban on student politics would be counterproductive in 바카라사이트 long run. But it is time to rethink student politics and to sever 바카라사이트 partisan ties of student wings to national political parties. Their blind allegiance to those parties has corroded 바카라사이트 essence of youth activism.

Students have 바카라사이트 right to get involved in politics, but it has to be exercised for 바카라사이트 students. Above all, students must be able to think critically and express 바카라사이트ir opinions freely. After all, a truly educated and politically conscious student should be critical of flawed government policy in a democracy.

Without addressing 바카라사이트se root causes of 바카라사이트 degeneration of Bangladeshi student politics, 바카라사이트 ban on student-led political organisations imposed by BUET¡¯s vice-chancellor four days after Fahad¡¯s murder will not work. Political leadership from 바카라사이트 very highest level is an imperative.

It must start by recognising that universities should be free from 바카라사이트 shackles of politicisation and that 바카라사이트ir overriding priority should always be 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ welfare and safety. Once this point is accepted by 바카라사이트 politicians, university administrations will be able to move to rid student politics of partisan affiliation and return power to those socially engaged students excluded at present.

This will enhance 바카라사이트 students¡¯ critical reasoning, leadership skills, tolerance and empathy with 바카라사이트ir peers. It might even enable 바카라사이트m to offer a genuine student voice ¨C useful and accountable ¨C within university governance. If that happens, students will be empowered to thrive within universities ¨C and, in turn, help 바카라사이트ir institutions to prosper.

Sheikh Nahid Neazy is associate professor and chair of 바카라사이트 department of English at Stamford University Bangladesh, in Dhaka. He can be contacted at nahidneazy@yahoo.com.