We strongly condemn the Chhatra League members who vandalised more than 50 vehicles around Mohakhali on Monday evening.
Police reports say that traffic was disrupted along the Gulshan-Mohakhali road for at least an hour after groups of BCL members from Titumir College went on the rampage.
This violence apparently arose from factional disputes over committee places. For appalling acts of mindless vandalism to occur over such a simple matter highlights something deeply wrong at the heart of what passes for student politics in our country.
Unfortunately, this is far from a one-off incident. Bangladesh Chhatra League members have been involved in numerous similar incidents in campuses across the nation.
Only last week, a journalist and a third-year student had to be taken to a hospital after being beaten up by a large group of BCL activists in front of the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University. In that case, the proctor has issued assurances that action will be taken against those involved if they are found guilty.
The widespread prevalence of such lawlessness among student activists, including those from different political parties, points to a belief that they can act with impunity.
As the party represented by the BCL, the government has a special responsibility to combat this scourge. It must make sure those involved in Monday’s vandalism are brought before the law and that the victims are duly compensated.
The AL and all other parties must act together to disown any of their activists who act lawlessly and intimidate others.
