THE situation at Chittagong University has certainly shown no sign of Improvement. In fact, recent developments, meaning formation of a four-party students alliance and its subsequent expression of intent towards transforming the Indefinite siege' programme into non-stop hartal from Tuesday. suggest that it would get worse in the coming days. What started off with a clash between Islam! Chhatra Shibir and the Bangladesh Chhatra League looks set to paralyse the whole of the port city.

We understand and appreciate the grievance of the Shibir activists. Indeed, killing of two of their comrades during the skirmish should be investigated; and the killers should be tried and punished. However, the path they have taken to press home their demands, predictable though it Is in the context of our political culture, is bound for further violence, more bloodshed and eventually academic inertia at the university. The general students, as a result, would pay the price, with their tenure at the university further prolonged and graduation into working life delayed.

Why take the failure of the law enforcement people out on the general students? Besides, violence on the campus would certainly have a spill-over effect on the socio-economic life of the port city. Activities at the port city had been heavily hampered throughout last year due to political and labour unrest. Yet another round of political violence would mean yet another round of impeded port activities. The economy certainly cannot afford that. We whole-heartedly denounce the stance taken by Shibir and other opposition student wings. Also, mindless talks of making the country "another Afghanistan. Chechnya, Kashmir. Bosnia" etc. speak of insanity of the highest order.

By any means, the deadlock at Chittagong University would have to put to an end. We would request the agitators to take a peaceful course to have their demands met. Instead of jeopardising the future of thousands of general students.