IT is disquieting to note that during a clash between two factions of Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) three activists got injured and three journalists were assaulted. It is alleged that the conflict erupted over sharing of money obtained out of bidding for a public work inside the university. 

Why are students involved in the tender business? It has become a culture in public universities that ruling party student activists get engaged in bidding, seeking ransom and other illegal activities to make a quick buck. It seems that money and privilege motivate these students to participate in student politics, not any ideology or pursuit of well being for general students. As a result, we often see clashes between student activists over petty interests which sometimes turn into lethal conflicts and vitiate the campus environment. In a similar factional clash at JU a student named Zubair was killed in 2012. 

We strongly condemn the attack on journalists while they were covering the incident. Such untoward occurrence only show the party hierarchy's insensitivity to professional discharge of duty by media people. 

We urge the university authority to take stern action against these raucous elements. Elections to students unions have been long overdue although this could have been a viable anecdote to the un-student like behaviour.  The BCL for its part should try to live up to its past glory.