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On the lively debate as to whether or not the Government of
Bangladesh should ban student politics, I agree with Dr. Dasgupta and
Mr. Rahfat Hussain. Dr. Dasgupta captured the importance of
political activity when he writes: "Student Politics is a very strong
mechanism to produce future leaders, for students to learn about
organisation, public speaking, canvassing." I would broaden his
statement to simply state that all members of society should actively
participate in politics. Law and order concerns cannot be conflated
with the crtical need for a vibrant civil society which is created by
student activism. I add some points.

As a second generation Bangladeshi, I find it somewhat ironic that
Bangladeshis would call for the ban of student politics, when it is
the student movement that was the catalyst to its future independance
movement. From my childhood, I was taught the critical role of
student/youth activism in the Bangladeshi independance movement. I
learned that young people can alter their political and economic
conditions. This realization lead me to be active in Divestment from
South Africa Movement, led primarily by young people. Consciousness
raising of young people can never be a bad thing.

So, the skeptic in me asks: What is the political objectives of any
state or persons that advocate for the banning student activism? Is
it because they are opposed to social justice issues raised? Are they
unwittingly complicit in goverment's regulation of its citizenry.

Have we considered that the Government would like us to believe that
student activism creates law and order problems. It is an easy
distraction from the reality that the government has abdicated its
responsibility to protect its citizenry. Political parties thrive on
the violence and hartals.

I hold no romantic notions of student activism. Students can be just
as reactionary. It is also a limited concept in that many
Bangaldeshis do not attend school and as such as are not students.
But, campus based activism is a way by which some youth become
politicized. That process of politicization is critical for the
development of a strong democracy.

Perhaps, I ask those in favor of banning student politics: State
your intentions?

Chaumtoli Huq