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FROM our childhood we had an idea that the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is an academic institution where the best students of the country take admission. It is true. So the expectation is that they are studious, they are highly disciplined and they are the model for others.
But unfortunately the BUET, as the events show, is not what we thought of. Here girl students like Sabekunnar Sony dies in cross fire when two groups of students clash over grabbing a tender. Here students demonstrate for shifting of the dates for examinations.
The latest round of violence there forced the authorities to close down the BUET for an indefinite period. The students' demand for an extension of the preparatory time for the final examination beyond August 1 and the vehement opposition of the authorities concerned to this demand created this situation. The examinations were originally due to start on May 28 but were deferred until August 1 to provide the students a respite to watch the World Cup football championships.
Actually both sides -- the students and the university authorities -- should have taken the path of peace. We have seen that how the students, the most brilliant ones of the country, went for anarchy, vandalism and violence.
The authorities did not accept the demand of students on the ground that it would prolong the session jam. Now this jam is sure to persist as the institution is closed for an indefinite period. Thus, the BUET seems now to be headed for troubles and turmoil, impairing its image as an institution enjoying a relatively peaceful academic environment.
Mohammad Haroon
Elephant Road, Dhaka
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