Won't tolerate violence, PM warns students

Asking students to refrain from resorting to vandalism in their educational institutions, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the government will no longer tolerate such acts.

“Any sort of vandalism won’t be tolerated. It won’t happen that students will vandalise their educational institutions and I’ll accept this,” she said.

The Prime Minister was inaugurating the 29th national council of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the afternoon.

She said law enforcement agencies have been asked to take prompt and appropriate steps against the students getting involved in vandalism.

“No one will be spared, no matter what organisation they belong to. Appropriate actions will be taken,” Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister also asked the aspirants to learn how to sacrifice for achieving something in the future.

Regarding the age limit for the BCL leaders, she said it was 27 years in the last council, but as the present committee continues their tenure for nine months more, the age limit will be 28 years this time.

“This committee was in force for two years and nine months. They’re in posts for additional nine months. I don’t want anyone to be left out from any post for this nine months. So, we can give one year as a grace period,” Hasina said.

Highlighting the role of the BCL in the country's War of Liberation, all democratic movements and struggle for building a peaceful and harmonious society, the Prime Minister said every achievement of the Bangalee nation came as a result of the sacrifice of the BCL leaders and workers.

She said Bangladesh Chhatra League is one of the oldest student organisations of the subcontinent which earned freedom for the nation and worked for making the independence and democracy sustainable amidst intimidation of the military dictators during pre -and post -independence periods.

She said the history of Chhatra League and Bangladesh is identical. “Bangabandhu founded the student front when the Pakistani rulers had attempted to snatch the rights of Baengalee people to speak in their mother tongue. BCL was founded at the time of the of Language Movement to establish Bangla as the state language.”

Since its inception, the BCL has been playing a catalytic role in every movement, Hasina said.

“The highest number of BCL activists being faithful to the ideology of Bangabandhu shed their blood for the cause of the nation for every national achievement, including the War of Liberation, she said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister hoisted the national flag upon her arrival at the council venue when the national anthem played and the BCL president and secretary hoisted the organisation's flag.

She inaugurated the council by releasing pigeons and balloons.

BCL General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain presented the organisational report at the opening ceremony presided over by BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also spoke on the occasion.

Councillors from 109 organisational units of the ruling party’s associate body from home and abroad are taking part in the two-day conference to get their next leadership.

Referring to the recent attack on, and vandalism and looting of Dhaka University Vice-chancellor’s residence during the quota reform movement, she said such heinous act did not happen in the country’s history.

“An investigation is on. Many of those involved in the incident have already been arrested while others will be detained. I’ve asked law enforcement agencies to take proper action against the culprits,” the Prime Minister said.

She also thanked the general students and the BCL men as no major unwanted incident took place in any educational institution in the last nine years. “Just one or two incidents happened. I don’t want to see such incidents to take place,” she said.

Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, asked the teachers of the educational institutions to refrain from engaging in conflicts among themselves that cause harm to their students. “I don’t want to see the students to suffer for the conflicts,” she said.

Mentioning that the government is always there to resolve any problem, she, however, warned that excess will never be tolerated.

The Prime Minister asked the students to use the internet as a platform for learning. “Digital Bangladesh is not for misusing it."

She also asked them to keep them away from militancy, terrorism and drug abuse. “Make sure no one is getting involved in these menaces. We’ve directed authorities concerned to take stern actions against those will be caught red-handed."

Hasina advised the students to have proper knowledge about traffic rules.

Talking about selecting the next BCL leadership, she urged the organisation to go for selection reaching an understanding.

“Sit and choose your leadership. Select such leaders who will strengthen the organisation manifesting a proper leadership,” she said.

Source: unb