Regaining the glory of student politics

Politics is the art of compromise which endeavours to enlighten society by alleviating illiteracy, creating consciousness in community, eradicating poverty, and establishing the rights of people in society. In Bangladesh there is a glorious historical viewpoint of student politics. Student politics in Bangladesh has a glorious past.

The journey of student politics started in the Bengal region while it was under British colonial rule. Up to 1930, there were no student unions in Bangladesh. In that period, students were collectively facing severe challenges from different student movements. During 1941, students were segregated into two main groups, leftist and rightist. That time rightist students did not involve themselves in campus politics. On the other hand, there were two leftist student unions, namely Chartra Union and Chartra League, and they actively dominated and controlled the campus politics.

After the end of the British colonial rule in 1947, Bangladesh was named as East Pakistan under the rule of Pakistan. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the principal organiser of East Pakistan Muslim Students League in 1948. Syed Nazrul Islam was the President of Salimullah Muslim Hall Students Union in 1940s; Tajuddin Ahmad was the founder of East Bengal Chhatra League in 1948. In 1952, the activists of both leftist and rightist political parties made sacrifices for the Language Movement and ultimately established Bangla as the state language of the then East Pakistan. In early 1960, Chartra League was segregated into different groups and each group was leaded by different Chartra League leaders.

In 1971 in the critical period of our Liberation War, political students played a vital role in achieving victory. It was the golden period of student politics when there was a healthy culture of student politics through the acts of patriotism, inclination towards knowledge, pursuit of academic excellence, and coexistence with their political rivals. After independence, Bangladesh Awami League formed the government and campus politics was controlled by their associated student wing, Bangladesh Chartra League (BCL). In 1975, President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated and martial law was declared in Bangladesh. In the meantime the chief of the army Ziaur Rahman formed a new

political party named Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and also established an associated student wing named Jatiotabadi Chartra Dal (JCD) as a rival party to BCL. President Ziaur Rahman was also assassinated and after a certain period, martial law was once again declared. The new chief of the military government Hussain Muhammad Ershad also established another political party named Jatiyo Party. The Jatiyo Party was committed not to create any student wing but it also formed another student wing named Bangladesh National Chartra Shamash (BNCS).

But the recent scenario of student politics is totally different. Political parties have established affiliated student parties to use students as their political tools. As a result, the students are involved in grouping, vandalism and internal conflict, which are damaging the quality of education. If students are involved in constructive politics, then the congenial environment for higher education will be ensured. Creative and research based study will produce talented professionals.

However, to bring about an optimistic change in student politics, political parties have to stop using students as their tool and brilliant students should join politics. Thus the country will get patriotic political leaders in the future. On the other hand, educational institutes should ensure a congenial educational atmosphere and establish different clubs like debate, sports, volunteer and cultural clubs on the campus to bring out the latent talent of the students. If educational institutions follow this, we hope we will get some brilliant students with strong leadership quality in the future for Bangladesh.

Misbah Uddin Sumon MBA Dept. of Tourism and Hospitality Management University of Dhaka - See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_Regaining-the-glory-of-studentpolitics_691_1_28_1_1.html#sthash.wOW4XKRB.dpuf