But to what extent the decision taken will be effective, how long the Board of Directors can keep this ‘breath’ – that is a big question. Even though such a decision was taken earlier, it remained only in formalities and was not implemented. This time, one of the Chhatra League leaders against whom allegations have been made was temporarily expelled from the hall in the case of student torture but it was not implemented.
Earlier, Shaheed Suhrawardy hall principal announced to vacate the illegally occupied seats of BCL, but in the end he could not. If they do not accept the unfair demands of BCL, they try to humiliate different principals by tagging them as ‘Rajakar’, ‘Jamaati’ etc.
Complaints against the Chhatra League are widespread in Rabi’s residential halls. Along with the administration, they have created a shadow administration. The hall administration has to manage and run the hall keeping them happy. In many cases, residency is no longer given with notice. In some cases the residency is given on the basis of merit but the administration does not cooperate in promoting them to the allotted seats. He has to rise to his allotted seat by managing the Chhatra League.
Those who rise through the Hall administration are subjected to various forms of intimidation and oppression. Allegedly, their staff conducted raids from room to room to find out when the exam is over and when the period of the hall is over. These inquiries are uncomfortable and humiliating for outgoing students. Chhatra League is giving new students in these seats sometimes in party identity or in exchange of money.
In the residential halls of Rabi, some people are often subjected to harassment by the Chhatra League. Sometimes in the middle of the night, leaders and activists of BCL come and force the sleeping students down from their seats. Throwing away the bedding in fear.
Sometimes physically and mentally torturing students with camp tags and extorting money by saying ‘kill camp and continue it’. Many times even Sanatan Dharma students are not spared from the trap of ‘camp’ tag-trade. Recently two Sanatan Dharma students were accused of being beaten up with the tag of ‘Shibir’.
At least two students have had their eardrums ruptured due to the violence of the Chhatra League. They are threatened that if they tell anyone, the consequences will be like Abrar Fahad of Buet. Many of the abused students become mentally disturbed and physically ill.
In protest of these incidents and demanding the punishment of the torturer Chhatra League leader, the teachers and students organized human chain and protest rally in the campus many times. They think that Chhatra League has become extremely careless day by day due to the administration’s revelation. A culture of lack of accountability and impunity is contagion and repeats the same thing. By avoiding responsibility in the halls, the administration is somehow siding with the oppressors.
Students feel that this extortion, tagging, usurpation and hegemony in the halls are the main hindrances to a healthy learning environment, development of culture and practice of free thinking. Dethroning, beating and intimidation are gross human rights violations. For a higher education institution in a civilized society that is shameful and embarrassing.
One of the responsibilities of university authorities is to maintain the safety of students and a conducive learning environment. In one of the higher educational institutions of the country, human rights are regularly being violated, irregularities and oppression are going on and the silence of the university administration is of great concern. Irrespective of political affiliation, we believe the administration has the moral fortitude to take strict action against wayward students and will not hesitate to show that fortitude.
Source: prothomalo