Incidents regretted

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Civil society members, academics and human rights activists yesterday termed the clashes between the army and Dhaka University (DU) students regrettable, undesirable, anti-academic and a consequence of the army’s lack of respect for the university students.

They said it is a failure of the DU authorities, the army and the police to resolve the issue in the beginning.

They appealed to the authorities to take appropriate measures to stop the clashes and urged the students to refrain from destroying public properties, saying it cannot be the means for establishing justice.

In his reaction to the army-students clashes, renowned educationist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad told The Daily Star, “It is a failure of the university and the police administration as well as of the army to resolve the issue in the beginning.”

Such an incident is very undesirable and anti-academic, which will hamper academic environment of the university if immediate actions are not taken to stop it, he added.

Terming the clashes between the army and the students totally undesirable, human rights activist advocate Sultana Kamal said more responsibility for this incident goes to the army, as they are in a position to help the government establish democracy.

Criticising the setting up of an army camp at the university campus, she said the government should have had more foresight in dealing with the students’ issues.

“Posting of the army to control the university area is a backward thinking,” she said, adding that those who are helping to establish democratic values should practise norms of good governance and democracy.

Former adviser to a caretaker government advocate Sultana Kamal, however, lauded the decision of relocating the army camp from the campus and the government’s apology for the incident.

The authorities at this point should take appropriate measures to stop the clashes and bring back academic environment through negotiations.

“I also appeal to the students not to destroy public properties and look after themselves so that their academic activities are not hampered,” she said.

Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, eminent author and a teacher at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, said such an incident would not have erupted if the army had a little more respect for the university students.

Assaulting students cannot solve the problem, he said, adding that the authorities should take immediate and appropriate measures to stop the violence quickly to avert further consequences.

Major Gen (retd) SM Ibrahim linked the clash to a storm in a teacup. It is highly regrettable that the incident had to happen between soldiers and students, he said.

“This demonstrates the inadequacy in education of the soldiers about the environment and the sensitivity of Dhaka University and its students, and lack of appreciation of the students about the sensitivity of soldiers who have been working so hard for the last eight months within their visibility and knowledge,” he said.

The situation arising out of the confrontation between soldiers and students was taken over by the police, which was the right step, but subsequent actions of the police were possibly little beyond expected limit, he said.

“I appeal to all corners for demonstrating cool, calm and patience. I will urge upon all corners to restrain violence,” Ibrahim said, adding that burning vehicles and destroying properties cannot be expected from a respectable society for obtaining justice.

The visit to the university and the hospital by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army Major Gen Sina Ibne Jamali was a welcome step, he added.

“Disciplining and affection must go hand in hand. Situation must not be allowed to aggravate, because the government and the joint forces have enough on their plates; they do not need more worry,” he said.

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