Student politics has become lucrative profession: BUET Alumni Prez

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Alumni President Prof Ainun Nishat said on Saturday student politics has become a lucrative profession.

He said, "It is not acceptable for students to engage in political tailism. Now hearing about student politics is scary. Ragging, extortion, abuse of power is not desirable in student politics. Student politics has become a lucrative profession."
He made the remarks at a debate on "Student Politics in BUET and Proper Learning Environment" organised by Debate for Democracy at FDC on Saturday.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Prof Nishat said, "BUET students have to study extensively for good results. Therefore, the non-politicization based on tailism disrupts the friendly learning environment of BUET students."

"According to BUET Alumni members there may be student union but not party based politics. If the court gives guidelines defining the scope of student politics, the university can formulate a code of conduct in that light," he said.

Prof Nishat said that many public and private universities in the country, including Bangladesh University of Professionals, Military Institute of Science and Technology and Khulna University, do not have student politics. However, these universities have a system to listen to students opinions and demands.

Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran presided over the event.

Chowdhury Kiran said the ongoing situation in  BUET student politics should be resolved by the BUET authorities through discussions with all the stakeholders including students, teachers, parents and the alumni.

Noting that all kinds of academic activities were conducted smoothly after student politics was banned the BUET campus, he said although student politics is banned in this specialised educational institution, students are now stronger in realising their democratic rights.

Kiran stressed the importance of students opinions as all the students of BUET boycotted all the term final examinations.
He added, "We have to remember that student politics does not mean a few slogans, unnecessary agitation and tailism. Student politics is about realising students rights. We don want the student politics of carrying  weapons, commit murders, and occupy halls."

Considering the current political context and the situation of student politics in other educational institutions, a proper decision should be taken regarding the reintroduction of student politics in BUET, Kiran said.

"Now we don find any higher education institution where fair political practice takes place. Rather, in every university, incidents of hall occupation, seat occupation, common room torture, ragging, and extortion are happening. Today, behind student politics in educational institutions, power, wealth, money, lobbying business has become the order of the day."

The debaters of Bangladesh University defeated the debaters of World University of Bangladesh in the shadow parliament.

Prof Abu Muhammad Rais, Dr SM Morshed, Journalist Deepak Kumar Acharya, Journalist Mustafa Kamal Mallick and Journalist Sharmin Nira judged the debate session.

Trophies, crests and certificates were awarded to the winners.