Hooliganism at RU

The repeated attempts of the local unit of the ruling party to influence and obstruct the recruitment process at Rajshahi University (RU) is deplorable. On numerous occasions, reportedly, leaders of the local Awami League tried to force the RU administration to recruit their chosen candidates. In a mockery of democracy, it staged protests demanding jobs for the party faithful, and later burst into none other than the Vice Chancellor's office to manhandle him. Embolden by a culture of impunity that surrounds the affair, some ruling party members foiled a couple of recruitment tests and a viva voce in December last year. And finally, this month, they locked the varsity's main gate. 

What is shocking is the response of the president of Rajshahi city AL, who has questioned the university authority's "motives" for holding the recruitment exams in the first place. Are we to assume that from now on universities are supposed to seek the local ruling party's approval before starting recruitment process? This behaviour clearly shows some out of control ruling party men demonstrating a complete disregard for the rule of law. 

We urge the AL leadership to come down heavily on these errant party members who are giving the ruling party bad press. We also believe that the repetitive pattern of such incidents is indicative of a deeper malaise within some of the party's local units. The AL needs to remove the impunity that some of its members seem to enjoy. We demand that the law enforcers take stern action against those responsible for such acts of hooliganism in RU.