Monday | 13 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
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Monday | 13 January 2025 | Epaper

DUCSU leadership: Truth that tastes pungent

Published : Sunday, 24 March, 2019 at 12:00 AM  Count : 246
Mahbubar Rahman
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen once said that Bengalis are argumentative nation Argumentative feature blended with elements of garrulity in many cases deeply ingrained in Bengali psyche. We love to boast and talk tall in comparing ourselves with someone or some institution which are miles ahead of us in terms of stature or status being measured by the yard stick of world ranking. Self esteem is a healthy sign in deed as long as it remains within the fold of arguable limit, but it's over-boarding leading to Megalomania is not desirable at all in individual or collective perspective. Moreover, heaving a hick-up of complacence for little or some achievements in the fold of credentials is also far from being a healthy sign both in individual or collective perspective.

Without knowing much about or knowing not at all, on some occasion about the Oxford University, we often love to dub our Dhaka University as the 'Oxford of the East.' We seldom delve into the length and breadth of the matter while we make such comparison in glorifying our university. However, such myopic comparison may be viewed as too much love and adulation for our own Alma matter.

Having established in 1096 A.D, Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation after Quraouiyine University in Fez, Morocco which was established in 859 A.D by Fatima al-Fihri.

Oxford University has a history of robust one thousand plus years, but nevertheless Dhaka University has also a glorious history of one hundred years. There is no denying a fact that with the span of last one hundred years, Dhaka University produced many bright alumni who have undoubtedly glorified our national history and contributed enormously in academic fields. Moreover, the role played by the students of Dhaka University in 1960s era in different political movements spearheading Independence of Bangladesh through War of Liberation is commendable.

Pursuing studies with serious note was the primary objectives of the students in those golden eras although emerging situation compelled students to take part in political movements. If we agree or not, in post liberation Bangladesh, standard of education in all levels including university has been drastically deteriorated and, to utter regrets, the same process has been still continuing because of many factors responsible for it.

The university students have regrettably been given to understand that it is not education but pursing politics which matter much in finding a golden ladder for success in life. Students' involvement in political activities for gainful purpose or acting as essential lubricant in the hands of political bigots cannot make a true leadership. In post liberation Bangladesh, we have seen students taking part in political movements, mostly for not any just cause of national issues but to benefit the political bigots steering them from behind the scene with ulterior motives.

In Anti Quota Movement last year we saw how students went berserk and vandalized VC's residence with the motive of killing him for the reason to which VC was not part of, in any way. The nation saw with shock & awe how an agitating student during Anti Quota Movement hung a vile festoon in his neck reading Aaami Razakar (I am Razakar) to demean and insult the freedom fighter and their progeny in the soil of independent Bangladesh emerged out of supreme sacrifice of freedom fighters under the charismatic leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

I am not aware if any parallel to such kind of vandalism and abhorrent display of sickening mind-set ever took place in any university campus in the civilized world. It is not out of place to mention, at this point, with great concern that some segments of teachers are deeply involved in politics under the colour of White, Blue, yellow etc having alliance with political parties, Their such involvement in politics obviously diminish their interest and ability to contribute in the academic field. I wonder if any such active involvement of teachers in polities under different shades and colours exist anywhere in world's leading universities.

Students' unions or forums exist in the global universities of fame and repute. There, the unions or forums only look after the welfare of general students. Grossly involving with mainstream political activities or meddling in the activities of government or any pretext this way or other with gainful purpose is not the cup of tea for students' union or forum in the leading global universities. That's how students get enough time to concentrate on their studies and become assets to their respective countries before they get into practical life and contribute to any field of their choice including politics of the country by up-keeping civilized norms and standards.

Dhaka University is one of the finest and prized institutions of Bangladesh. DUCSU is a pride name which reminds us of its historical role in shaping Bangladesh But we have to equally remember that DUCSU is not the only forum from which leadership of the country grows. In pre-liberation Bangladesh there were only handfuls few public universities in the country. At the passage of time, in last 47 years, there are now more than 100 both public and private universities in the country which contribute greatly in making future leaders for the country.

We have to equally remember that universities are not the only forums in the country which make political leaders to take the helm of the country for good governance. Political leadership equally grows from grassroots level of men with inborn aptitude naturally instilled in them through earning political wisdom over the ages. There are many instances of great political leaders across the world that have never been to the universities in their life time and still became iconic figures in the country's political leadership.

I have recently observed with concern that some TV talk show enthusiasts boastfully attribute DUCSU as the only forum of future political leadership. It is needless to emphasize that DUCSU is one of several other students' forums of other public and private universities which make future political leaders. Some talk-show enthusiasts, further, go to the extent of designating DUCSU as the second parliament of the country. Parliament is the sacred place of our national pride which formulates law, pass bills relating to important national issues. Parliament is one and only and there can be no parallel to it in the functional democracy.

However, by upcoming its glorious legacy of the past, DUCSU along with other students' forum in the country can play a positive role in shaping a prosperous Bangladesh keeping in mind the spirit of Liberation War in the alter of which 3 million people laid down their lives in 1971.

Long 29 years after recently held election, DUCSU leadership should concentrate working hard to unite students, create healthy environment and world class academic parlour in the campus after regaining its past legacy. They should not create any more chaos in the campus by boycotting classes and staging street agitation for DUCSU re-election as it is looming. Enough is enough. The nation cannot afford to see any further chaos in the university campus which engulfs other areas quickly making public life miserable and shatters country's peaceful journey towards achieving its goal of prosperity.

We have to keep in mind that world class universities across the world are miles ahead of our universities in terms of academic persuasion, research, invention, discovery, leadership etc. In order to make our education compatible to world class education, we have no other alternative but to devote and direct all our efforts and resources guaranteeing meaningful education saleable in the competitive world market. Leaving only with heaving hiccup of complacence and talking tall of our past legacies without giving any meaningful efforts will not bring tangible solution to the problems and shortcomings that we have been constantly confronting with, in the sphere of our education.  

Before concluding I offer my warmest felicitations to DUCSU and wish them success in maintaining peace & harmony in the Campus in the coming days.

The writer is a former civil servant





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