THE threat of provosts of all residential halls in the University of Rajshahi for resignation in protest at the unruly behaviour of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, once again shows the length of disruption caused by the organisation. The provosts sounded the warning after an emergency meeting with the university administration on May 28. They said that they would all resign if no tangible action was taken against Chhatra League leaders and activists involved in beating students and the staff of residential halls, driving out students from the halls, vandalism, threatening and misbehaving with hall provosts. The convener of the university provost council complained that the provosts were fed up with the disorderly behaviour of the Chhatra League, could not carry out their duties properly and felt helpless and insecure. On May 27, Chhatra League activists vandalised the dining and guest rooms at the Nawab Abdul Latif Hall after the hall authorities denied them jerseys allocated for players. On May 16, a group of activists beat a student of Bangla who left the university campus in fear. On May 15, the activists beat up three students when the students asked them not to abuse drugs on campus.
Incidents of torture, infighting, seat trade, extortion and other misdeeds by Chhatra League activists at the university at hand and on other campuses continue to make the headlines. Chhatra League squabbles and criminal activities have, in fact, become all too common over the years, often resulting in the closure of institutions, serious injuries to students and, in some cases, death. Incidents of Chhatra League harassment of students, academics and even outsiders have also continued unabated. General students, teachers and officials of educational institutions are the most affected by the unruly behaviour of the organisation, which has earned a bad name for its involvement in crimes ranging from rape to murder. Such misdemeanour and unruly behaviour have come to characterise the Chhatra League as the government and the Awami League lend a deaf ear to all this. The organisation has also come to increasingly become undemocratic and fascist and has been high-handed towards dissent and opposition parties.聽 It is not altogether unjustified when educationists say that nothing good can be expected of such a rogue organisation, which never moves for student welfare and is always ready to serve as the muscle power for the ruling party.
The Rajshahi University authorities must, therefore, address the grievances of the provosts and take exemplary action against Chhatra League activists involved in misdeeds. Authorities in other universities must also take action to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning and research and must rid the institutions of subversive political activities. The Awami League must also control its student wing and not use it as a political muscle to establish control over the institutions.