All ‘power’ in BCL hand, admin disempowered

Md Moniruzzaman :
The recent attacks of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on the Dhaka University campus and their dormitories proved that DU official in charge of the security of the dormitories or the campus have just disempowered after laying all the power to a student wing.
The BCL leaders and activists carried out attack one after another to oppress the opponents but DU proctorial team has failed to maintain the peaceful and learning atmosphere of the campus.
Besides, the proctorial body could not throw out the unauthorized food stalls, tea stalls after trying for several times and also came to light of its failure when they failed to control traffic and heavy vehicles flow through the campus instead of taking police help.
There have been six clashes in the campus only this year. In these clashes, the ruling Awami League students wings’ BCL was beaten the leaders and activists of the opposition student organization in fully one-sided manner, but the university administration was not taken any steps.
Among them, BNP’s student wings Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was clubbed twice and Chhatra Odhikar Parishad was walloped in three rounds. Besides, progressive students bodies were thrashed in one round.
Criticizing the current proctorial body, Professor Dr KM Saiful Islam Khan, who was provided service as a proctor from 2009 to 2011 told The New Nation, “Now the proctorial body is running spontaneously, no one is driving it.”
“I always tried to prevent it before it happened. And ordinary students used to help me in this work. During my time, 64 leaders of  
BCL alone were expelled from the university for different periods,” he added.
These incidents have been creating a culture of ‘gano beating’ on campus. Even though this bad culture is being nurtured in front of the university administration, they were silent, even no report of clash was published.
Meanwhile, the general students of the dormitories used a trump card to protest the dissidents. The students especially first, second and third years have to gather at a specific location after attacking some.
After the attack, the BCL always claimed that general students protested them and BCL expresed solidarity with them.
Seeking anonymously, several students said, “We live in the hall under the control of BCL. We have to participate in any program including clashes. If someone did not get into a clash, they were later abused and punished in the guest room.”
Besides, the DU administration has lost their control over its dormitories to the BCL. DU Hall administration cannot control seat distribution, canteen management and giving punishment to the guilty.
On September 27, the newly formed DU unit of JCD leaders who were scheduled to meet with Vice-Chancellor, were attacked by BCL members and beaten mercilessly with sticks and cricket stumps.
Strangely enough, despite the pictures and video footage published in newspapers confirming the attack by BCL members, the university’s BCL unit general secretary denied this completely, adding that it was an internal feud of the JCD.
The Vice-Chancellor sought a report from the proctorial body regarding the attacks on JCD. However, the report was not submitted in the end. In another incident that happened on May, DU Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani, was seen blaming the victims instead. Besides cases were filed against the victims in these incidents.
Less than two weeks later, on October 8, BCL men again attacked Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members who had organised a memorial programme to remember the third death anniversary of BUET student Abrar Fahad, who was killed by BCL.
The police decided to arrest not the attackers, but those students who had been attacked when they went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) to get treated for their injuries but the university authorities remained virtually silent.
“Whenever there was any conflict during our time, I would immediately investigate the incident and make a report even it was published by holding a press conference,” former Proctor KM Saiful Islam Khan said.
Expressed despondency for failing to investigate the clashes, he said, “Where the university could not conduct any investigation into the vandalism of the VC’s residence in 2018, what will it investigate these clashes at present?”
“The report has not been submitted yet. It is delaying for remaining some closers’ day of the university after the accident happened,” DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman said.
Asking about the culture of getting away after violating rules, Vice-Chancellor said, Many have been punished for violating rules in the campus. There is nothing to reveal about the punishments. We feel bad that we are punishing our students. There are some criminal matters which are dealt with by the police.”