A FACTION of the Chittagong University unit of Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, coming to block the university on Monday, forcing the administration to postpone all scheduled classes and examinations is unpalatable. The faction is reported to have locked the main gate of the university from early morning till evening as it failed to secure an expected number of positions in the newly formed 375-member unit committee. The activists also abducted three staff of the railway, shutting the shuttle train, and blocked the movement of university buses. When the formation of the committee of a university unit of the Chhatra League, or any other political parties, has nothing to do with the university and its academic activities, such arrogance and misdemeanour on part of the Chhatra League activists suggest a malady that has taken a deep root and has continued to undermine the campus environment. What is further unacceptable is that such misdemeanour and disruption have come to growingly characterise the student wing of the ruling party as the government and the Awami League turned a deaf ear to such issues.

The Chittagong University Chhatra League came to make the headlines a number of times in the recent past for wrong reasons. On July 14, two activists of the unit, along with others, harassed a female student sexually which led the university authorities to expel the two. The incident is only one on a long list of criminal activities that the Chhatra League has perpetrated, disrupting academic activities. In January–June, a number of clashes broke out among Chhatra League factions in Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Islamic University and others, resulting in the temporary suspension of academic activities. The Chhatra League is also reported to have engaged in clashes with university authorities and outsiders. Chhatra League activists locked up the Rajshahi University vice-chancellor on May 1 and the Chittagong University Chhatra League clashed with villagers on May 23. Besides, the Chhatra League also engaged in clashes with the Jataiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Dhaka University and Rajshahi University in the last week of May. Reports on the harassment of general students in halls of residence and the control of the hall seat allocation have also come aplenty.

It is not altogether unjustified when educationists and civil society demand the educational institutions should not to allow any partisan operation of student organisations. The authorities, both the government and the educational institutions, must realise that the seats of higher learning need to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning and research. They must, therefore, act to rid the institutions of subversive political activities. The ruling Awami League must also control its student wing and must not use the student wing as political muscle to establish control over educational institutions.