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City College Should be Spared of Musclemanry

by Nilratan Halder
OF late Dhaka City College Is having Its share of trouble from terrorism that has been sweeping the country's educational Institutions for quite a long time now. For the college that has managed so ably until recently lo thwart the terrorism's Infiltration, the attack on teachers by a handful of irregular students reinforced by terrorists from outside has come as a double shock. First, the college's enviable record has been shattered by this single incident and second, the problem is somewhat different in that the terrorists consider none other than the teachers as their opponents and have made them the target of their attack. The general students who have been forced to suffer In the process are no parly lo the feud.
As the closure of the college continues since April 27. the day the attackers unleashed a reign of terror on the college campus, there arc conflicting reports on the developments that are taking place at almost regular intervals. The incidents. sadly enough, arc now spilling over lo the streets and areas around, rather than being Just confined to ihc college premises, causing untold suffering to the public. The other day, students, about a hundred according to reports published. pul up a road blockade on Miypur Road near the
Science Laboratory demanding immediate opening of the college.
The crux of the problem is that one never knows if the concern shown for opening the college is anything but restoration of peaceful academic atmosphere. When the students — a section of them to be more precise — find a dialogue between them and their teachers is impossible, credit goes neither to any of the parties Involved, nor to the education system of Ihc country. Students have known not only to wield firearms but also to trade In politics which is muddler than ever before.
Is not It absurd that students are keen on keeping the college open and teachers, nil of them, are dead against 11? Something somewhere has gone seriously wrong. And the wrong finds its origin in one single incident involving the second-time admission (not to confuse with readmission) of a student who incidentally happens lo be the vice-president of the college students' union. The Incident In detail is that the VP dropped himself out when he was a B Com (pass) examinee. He then wanted to gel himself admitted to first year BA (pass) class. The college authority, finding fl contrary to the rules of the college. refused to lake him in. The authority was however
most willing to allow him lo sit for Ihc next B Com examination.
The different jstands both the VP. who naturally has a following among Ihc students, and the teachers Jointly took on the Issue ary evidently Irreconcilable and hence confrontation was the only recourse lo which the student leader indulged himself. What is now happening since is a show of force aimed lo intimidate the teachers, Ihc principal In particular, for their submission to ihc untenable demand. Il is a clear ease of an attempt to give an individual grievance — no matter how logical or illogical — the look of a collective character and thus undermine the institutional Sanctity.
When dead set, political leaders or for that matter student leaders, can play either very nasty and wreak havoc with Ihc order and discipline or immaculately fair lo give truth a chance even at the cost of their own lives. In today's politics of convenience, sacrifice is an alien word lo most k-aders. In all eases, save a few. political leaders make most of Ihc messy situation and student leaders, until recently Invulnerable. have been following in Ihetr seniors' footsteps.
The strategy is the same and all possible avenues arc
most dcdlcatcdly explored to score points — no matter If the stand taken is Justified or not. Giving any problem a colour of common concern, these days, Is not very difficult. As has happened In this ease, a few things with at least the ap pcarancc of them- relating a large number of people s lives have quite cleverly been interwoven in the personal issue so that it looks convincing enough lo Ihc public. For example, one complaint is that the college authority has reduced the number of seals for students in different classes find is going lo raise the tuition fees.
Well, the claim is not at all disputed. But the teachers also have a point which is that the reduction is insignificant and Ihc move has been forced on them by circumstances. Wilh Ihc Introduction of B Sc classes and increased facilities for practical classes, a few rooms earlier used as class rooms had lo be reserved for Ihc purpose. More, a few rooms also had lo be allocated for use as offices of the students' union. So quite a number of class rooms are now unavailable. On the other hand, resources for Increasing the class room facilities arc very limited, so is the ease Tvilh-
As for the raising of tuition fees, the college authority argues. it knows no other way than opting for the move. The college earns about Tk 500,000 from tuition fees but has to spend about Tk 600.000 cv6ry month. This means that the colkgc Is currently Incurring a monthly loss of about Tk 100,000. This loss Is being met from the college fund which will soon become dry if this continues. The other argument in favour of the authority Is that the tuition fees for different classes of this college are still lower than those of comparable colleges, sny Ideal College, Vlcarunncsa Noon School and College etc.
When the college authority has to abide by the government directive of keeping the number of students lo a certain limit also, the college has hardly any other option, specially in the event of an increase in salary for the teachers and employees. The eol-Icgc moreover, is a superb example of a success story made possible through private initiative. Ils result are an envy of many a college now. Therefore, 11 surely qualifies itself to take up ihc somewhat painful measure.
One of the demands then concerns the creation of residential facilities for the students. The teachers would only
love It. But the problem Is the space once again. Situated on onc-bighn land with two buildings — one five-storey and the other six-storey — the college had a very humble beginning Today, however, It has unfolded itself as a leading colkgc of Ihc country. A proposal for introducing honours classes was once extended to the colk-gc authority. Even another proposal was for sifting the location from Its present congested area. Maybe, all such proposals have their merits. But all those can be implc-njented If the government comes with generous aid and assistance. And the support should come not only In the form of money and other materials but also to reinforce the college authority's principled stand of not mixing personal or group interests of dubious sort with the interest of the institution. A concerted campaign against the principal of the college orchestrated by the interested group has happily got dampened, because the allegations were unfounded.
There is a need for restoring peace on Ihc college campus and those responsible for viti-aling the atmosphere should be taken care of. Only then can the college retain its high standard and set its aim still higher.
The writer is an Assistant Editor of the Daily Star.