Monday, November 3, 2008

CAMPUS: Platform of National Politics? [Jul 29, 2002]

Date: Mon Jul 29, 2002 5:46 pm
Sub: [ALOCHONA] CAMPUS: Platform of National Politics?

Dear Alochoks,

Earlier in one of my articles here I mentioned that the term "Student
Politics" is not clear to me. Its a kind of confusion to me. Is it a term
like "Children's Book" or "Adult Film" or "Rock Music"? I didn't see this
term in any constitutional laws here in Bangladesh. So, I couldn't enrich my
knowledge about the definition of Student Politics.

One of my clear visions is:
"Politics is Politics and there is no distinction between student and
non-student in terms of political right."

My strong objection to student politics is the PLATFORM it uses. Why the
campus should be used as a platform of national politics is really not
understandable. If politicians needed support from young students,
they are certainly able to do that without using the campus. The whole of
Bangladesh and the rest of the world is open for them to show political actions!

But for God sake not the campus or any educational institution as a
platform of politics!! Universities were established ONLY for STUDY and to
become a learned citizen! It was never built with the mechanism to handle
national political issues.

On average, a student needs to stay in the campus 6 hours a day. The other 18
hours he can spend as per his own will. If he wants to involve politics he
can share his time from that 18 hours, if he wants to be a musician he can
share it from that 18 hours, if he wants to be a cricketer he can share his
time from that 18 hours. But due to the existence of politics in the campus
a student has to squander time from his very valuable 6 hour study period.
Also only 5% may be interested in active politics in the campus, but the
rest 95% is suffering without any reason. Is it called Democracy? Is the
lesson we are providing to our future leaders about democracy? Shame!

An academic institute should be run based on its own goal about education
that is EDUCATION.

So, the debate/issue on ban or not ban 'student politics' is meaningless.
The issue should be "Ban politics in any educational institution".
Whether he is student or teacher or staff, doesn't matter. No politics
should be enter the campus! With no excuses!!

Note: Recent ban on student politics in BUET doesn't prohibit any student
from participating in political events outside of the campus. The ban is
effective only within the campus area. Each college and university should follow
this example.


Peace for all,



P.S.: For a little more clarification about my statement, In no way I meant
"student politics" as "arms cadre politics". Cadre politics is a quite
non-sense and brutal crime against humanity. There should not be any debate
about cadre politics. In the current situation cadre politics polluted the
whole air of our university campuses. Experimental punishment should be
served to the cadre members and their benevolents.

____________________________________________
**Note: My article in Alochona

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