[ALOCHONA] Incidents of violence rising in education institutions

Incidents of violence rising in edn institutions
Courtesy New Age 14/1/09 Siddiqur Rahman Khan

Incidents of violence have been on the rise in the higher educational institutions across the country in the last few days, and two institutions in Khulna have been closed following clashes between activists of different students’ organizations backed by political parties.
   The academic future of thousands of students is at stake and about 200 students have been injured in clashes between activists of the AL-backed Chhatra League, BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and the Jamaat-backed Chhatra Shibir. Besides, around 5,000 students have been forced to vacate their residential halls for fear of attacks by students backed by the ruling party.
   At present a tense situation is prevailing at the Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Islamic University in Kushtia, Khulna Medical College Hospital, BL University College, Gournadi Government College in Barisal, Narail Government Victoria College, Feni Government College, Government Azizul Hoque College in Bogra and the Chittagong Polytechnic Institute.
   Last week the authorities of the Khulna Medical College Hospital and BL University College closed down the institutions sine die and all the examinations at the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology were suspended for an indefinite period.
   Nine students of the Khulna Medical College Hospital were injured in a clash between the Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir on Friday night over the control of the college’s hostel.
   The Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology suspended all the scheduled examinations for an indefinite period after the activists of the Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir clashed on January 7 to capture the seats in the residential halls.
   At least 20 leaders and activists of the both the groups were injured.
   The Government BL College at Daulatpur in Khulna was closed on January 5 for an indefinite period because of the fighting between Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir to take control of a hall. Fifteen students of both the groups were reportedly injured.
   A tense situation has prevailed on the Rajshahi University campus since January 5 as the activists of the Chhatra League drove out the workers of the Chhatra Shibir from the Madar Baksh Hall of the university.
   Our Correspondent from the Islamic University in Kushtia adds: Tension is prevailing in the university as the Chhatra League and the Chhatra Shibir have locked horns to establish supremacy in the university. The Shibir’s activists are desperately trying to retain their control of the campus while the BCL activists are doggedly trying to wrest control from them. Many of the general students are not returning to the university out of the fear that they might be collateral victims of the fierce clash between the two rival student fronts, said sources.
   Most of the activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal left the campus on December 30 midnight, locking their rooms in the various residential halls. But the Shibir’s activists, who have been controlling the residential halls of the university since the victory of the four-party alliance in the 2001 parliamentary polls, are now desperately trying to retain their control. They have taken up strategic positions on the campus and inside the halls, determined to fight to the last, said sources in the Jamaat.
   The Chhatra League’s activists on January 1 occupied at least 10 rooms in Bangabandhu Hall and Shahid Ziaur Rahman Hall which were controlled by the Chhatra Dal.
   Meanwhile, fearing that the Awami League-backed teachers and students organizations will attack or humiliate him, vice chancellor Professor Faez Mohammad Serajul Haque has avoided the campus for the last few days. A source very close to him said that he would not return to the campus until his resignation or removal by the government.

 

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