‘Student politics of cronyism unacceptable’

It is unacceptable for students to engage in the politics of cronyism. Hearing about student politics now invokes fear. Ragging, extortion, abuse of power is not acceptable in student politics. This has become a lucrative profession, said Prof Dr Ainun Nishat.

Dr Nishat, the president of BUET Alumni Association, made the remarks while addressing a Shadow Parliament debate competition on student politics and fair environment of education, organised by the Debate for Democracy in the capital’s FDC on Saturday.

He further said, “BUET students have to study extensively for good results. Therefore, politics rooted in cronyism spoils the supportive environment for education of BUET students. BUET Alumni members too agree that there may be a students' council, but not politics of cronyism.

“If the court gives guidelines defining the scope of student politics, the universities can formulate a code of conduct in that light. Many public and private universities of the country, including BUP, MIST and Khulna University, do not have student politics.”

However, these universities have a system to listen to students' opinions and demands. Students' intervention in administrative decisions is increasing as the relationship between teacher politics and student politics is visible in these universities, Dr Nishat pointed out.

Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran, who presided over the event, said, “The ongoing situation surrounding student politics in BUET should be resolved by the university authority through the court, based on discussions with all parties including students, teachers, parents and alumni.

“There is a slight difference between the students’ council of BUET and the students’ council of Dhaka University. Since BUET is a specialised higher education institution, it should have its own version of student politics and students’ council.”

In the shadow parliament debate competition held Saturday, Bangladesh University debaters won by defeating the World University of Bangladesh debaters.

The judges in the competition were Prof Abu Muhammad Rais, Dr SM Morshed, journalist Deepak Kumar Acharya, journalist Mustafa Kamal Mallick, journalist Sharmin Neera. Trophies, crests and certificates were awarded to the winning teams at the end of the competition.