The odious ‘guest room’ culture

What should one make of the report published in this daily that, in the last five months, at least 18 students of Dhaka University (DU) have been either assaulted or mentally tortured at the "guest rooms" of six dormitories in 10 incidents, mostly by "BCL" men? What is equally reprehensible, if not more, is that the university authorities have not taken any action as yet against the alleged perpetrators. On top of that, three university correspondents of different media outlets were also victims of these culprits. This horrific story was revealed by a newly formed rights-based organisation, Students against Torture (SAT), which is monitoring the human rights issues of students.

Predictably, the allegations have been denied by the leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) DU unit, who explained it away as one of those unexpected incidents that happen in the dorms, and that some "unpopular" organisations were bringing allegations against the student front of the ruling party to garner attention.

The Chhatra League explanation cannot wash with the public. One would perhaps have accepted their account were it a one-off incident. Unfortunately, such is not the case. Reportedly, in November last year, five students of Sir AF Rahman Hall in DU were beaten up, allegedly by BCL activists, for Facebook posts calling for a halt to the guest room culture. A similar incident occurred last Sunday, as reported in a leading Bangla daily, when a student of Kazi Nazrul Islam University was severely abused in a "torture cell" by BCL leader Rakib's group. The beating was so severe that the victim, a second-year student of the university, had to be admitted to the hospital.  

We must voice our serious misgivings and alarm at what can only be described as a brutal practice, unbecoming of the highest seats of learning in the country: the universities. Reportedly, these cells are used to indoctrinate newcomers, or chastise those that fall out of line or refuse to join the party bandwagon. The BCL cadres even brag about their political connections openly, and of their power that, they claim, supersedes that of the powers of the VC. Such practice must be stopped forthwith. The university authorities owe it to the general students, as guarantors of their well-being, to take appropriate measures to stop this horrible practice. They must put their personal political predilections aside and serve the general students. Failure to do so will mean abdication of their duty, and a slur on their credibility and honour as teachers.