What kind of politics at private

universities?
Syed Mazoorul Islam | Update: 09:37, Jul 26, 2016
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After the 1 July attack on Holey Artisan restaurant in
Gulshan, followed shortly by the militant attack near the
Eid prayer congregation in Sholakia, Bangladesh has
come face-to-face with certain new realities. The law
enforcement agencies, too, admit these two acts have
added a new dimension to violence.

It seems that though the forces were aware that such an

attack might occur, and the home minister has admitted as
much, they were simply not prepared.

The government has finally stood up and taken notice as

have the forces. The government has said all sorts of steps
will be taken against militancy.

This includes keeping a close watch on universities

alleged to have militant links and, in general, to step up
anti-militancy programmes in all universities.

One of the realities that has emerged is that students of

English medium schools and private universities have
been involved in these activities. Previously it was the
madrassa students who would be the suspects. In the
emerging circumstances, the matter is now being
generalised, prompting all sorts of comments to be made.
For example, North South University is being termed as a
militant-making machine. Some are demanding the
closure of universities which are alleged to have militant
links. I read in the newpapers that cafes and restaurants
will be removed from Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmandi
residential areas. Only 200 special rickshaws and 30
(perhaps special?) buses will be allowed as public
transport in Gulshan and Banani.

Generalisation can be equated with severing the head

from the body rather than administering medication for a
headache. It takes time, talent and investment to come up
with medication. None of that is needed to cut off the
head.

I also saw in the news that the education ministry

discussed the anti-militancy programme with the Chhatra
League. As Chhatra League is a student organisation, the
ministry can certainly have talks with it, as it can have
with the teachers association or the employee unions.

But there are other student organisations in the country,

several active on Dhaka University campus. They still
rally for education, for the students, for certain ideals of
education. They are akin to the mass-oriented student
bodies of the 1960s. Why werent they in the meeting?
They should be heard too.

I read that Chhatra League demanded that student politics

be allowed in the private universities. According to them,
while militant outfit clandestinely operated in these
institutions, other student organisations were not
permitted to do politics there.

To the apparent eye there is logic in their argument, if the

politics was considered in a positive sense. Firstly, any
extreme politics goes against the ideals of education. The
ideal of education is to hone talent through the acquisition
of knowledge, to inspire thought, to spread the spirit of
liberal humanism. It is to instill care and commitment for
the people, the country and the environment. It is to
nurture a global mindset through multi-cultural exposure.
Narrow, extremist and violent politics do not allow such
values to grow.

No institution can prevent politics which inspires a youth

to stand up against injustice, discrimination and the rule
of class and capital, to stand up for a participatory and
harmonious social system of equitable economic order. A
young student has the right to participate in people-
oriented politics of integrity.

Universities are not parrot-producing facilities. Their duty

does not end in the handing out of certificates and
producing young men and women for the corporate world
or government service. The main function of a university
is to produce an enlightened human being. All great
persons, from Emerson and Neumann to Tagore, have
time and again reminded universities of this
responsibility.

When Chhatra League speaks of politics at private

universities, are they meaning ideal, knowledge-based,
people-oriented politics? The politics we are observing
now can hardly inspire any hope. Major student
organisations function as affiliated wings of the major
political parties. Their priority is absolute power. Over the
past two and a half decades, these student organisations
have given rise to conflict and violence in the public
universities. They have been accused of corruption and
involvement in tender and other contractual businesses.
They put pressure on the general students and are
involved in all sorts of manipulative activities.

It is clear that such politics will do no good for the private

universities. Any decision in this regard needs careful
consideration.
I have connections with a few private universities in
Bangladesh, and even work on lien with one. There are
extremely few extremists in these universities. In fact, in
some of the universities such extremists do not exist at
all. The students are busy trying to get a degree, attending
classes, taking exams and taking part in cultural activities.

A teacher of North South Universitys English

department, Abdus Selim, recently wrote the students of
the university have been performing in plays and cultural
programmes. They have won awards overseas for
debating. Similarly, some of the students silently were
involved in extremist politics. The problem is that North
South University did not pay attention to this factor.

The students are not at fault. They are always ready to do

anything good. But if nothing good is offered to them and
if anyone places evil before them, they can be diverted to
the wrong path. They can be led to drugs in this manner
too.

Attention must be paid to private universities. When

pressure of studies goes down, cultural activities must be
upped. Cultural activities can be part of the curriculum.
Most of these universities do not teach Bangla literature.
There is hardly any scope for philosophy and natural
studies. Where are the playing grounds? The students
need facilities for their faculties to take in liberal
humanism.

If such changes are made in the private universities and

the necessary conditions for actual education are applied,
then there will be no scope for extremism. There should
be scope for politics in private universities, but politics
which hold certain lofty ideals, actually focused on
people and the country, not mere lip service. This politics
must be tolerant, pluralistic, liberal, humble and
constructive.

But if the existing models of student politics are

replicated, and followed by the emergence of teacher
politics as in the public universities, this will simply
introduce fresh problems in the private universities and
hamper education.

Ample changes must be brought about in the private

universities. They need adequate space and structural
improvements. These institutions must be humanist and
student-friendly, more inclusive and of higher standard.
What sort of politics will be conducive for this? This is an
issue to be taken into consideration from now.

Syed Manzoorul Islam is a writer, professor at the

Department of English, Dhaka University