Several distinguished educationists, including vice chancellors of a number of universities of the country, have been forthright In demanding an end to student politics as we know it today and In asking our national leaders to stop using our educational Institutions for their own gains A seminar held on Sunday at the Jahangirnagar University, organised by the World University Service, provided the occasion to our concerned teachers to express these views, thus contributing to the discussion on "Student Politics in Bangladesh and the Future of Higher Education.'

On the face of it. there was nothing new in the view that our political leaders should help in delinking their organisations from student bodies and thus promote the restoration of the academic atmosphere in our educational Institutions. The same view has been heard before and will be probably heard again from different fora discussing the present frightening situation that exists tn our colleges and universities throughout Bangladesh. However, there were several features which turned the seminar at the Jahangirnagar University into an unique meeting. Judging hy press reports, it was attended by four vice chancellors. several teachers and students, and the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad. Sheikh Razzak All. Again, if the teachers spoke forcefully on the oft-repeated demand for saving our educational bodies from continuing disintegration, they also came up with a number of Innovative, almost challenging, ideas, some tn the form of concrete proposals.

These proposals range from a call by Prof Kazi Saleh Ahmed, the Vice Chancellor of the host university for formulating a code of conduct by the parliament for student politics to a ban on such activities for the next five years, a demand made by a guest speaker. Prof Hamlda Banu of Chittagong University. These proposals which obviously must be further studied underscored the deep sense of despair among our teachers with the prevailing situation as well as their disenchantment. almost bordering on anger, with the lack of initiative on the part of our national leaders to deal with the crisis.

There will be any number of politicians who would probably regard the specific proposals made at the seminar as impractical ana utopian. However, they cannot ignore the overriding mes-. sage that vice chancellors and teachers conveyed to them in the clearest possible language: "Hands Off Our Students."

Once this message dawns on our politicians, a way can be found as to how we should proceed in opening a new chapter in the relations between our political parties and student bodies. Whether the parliament should frame a code of conduct for student politics or approve some other kind of legislation aimed at the restoration of academic atmosphere to our educational institutions is a matter of details. An important first step should be to bring the leaders of various parties together for a discussion on a possible consensus move. This is wheic we see a role for Speaker Sheikh Razzaq’AJi who. either in his official capacity or in his personal role, can call a meeting of leaders from both sides of the parliament and report to them the feelings expressed at the seminar at the Jahangirnagar University. At the seminar, he is reported to have "underlined the need for political honesty to curb violence in educational institutions." To this, we can only add our plea for an initiative on the part of the Speaker, a man held in esteem by all political parties. If Sheikh Razzaq All pursues the matter with determination, his efforts may not go In vain. Then it won't be long before our call. "Hands Off Our Students" Is translated into reality.