Most recently, the student movement of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology has been discussed across the country. The student movement came to a standstill as discussions with the Vice-Chancellor on resolving the problems in female students' hall were not fruitful. That movement later turned into a one-sided demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. The government intervened once the students continued their hunger strike favouring their demands. When several negotiations failed to bring any beneficial solution to the problem, at the request of the retired teacher of that university, Professor Zafar Iqbal, the students agreed to break the hunger strike.
Meanwhile, there was a lot of discussion about the main cause of the movement. Many have blamed the vice-chancellor's attitude for the unrest. Again many were trying to blame the students. I can't come to a definite conclusion because I was not there. However, having learned through different media sources, it can certainly be stated that the administration could have handled the situation more carefully. This movement could not have taken such a situation had the Vice-Chancellor dealt with the problem with a student-friendly attitude. Whatever might be the reason, the situation has become calm, which is the most pleasing news. We believe that the government and the Hon'ble Minister of Education will prudently consider the matter to reach an amicable solution.
Mahmud Habib Himel, a fourth-year student of the Department of Graphic Design, Crafts and History of Rajshahi University, was hit by a truck loaded with stones on the road in front of Habibur Rahman Hall of Rajshahi University on the night of February 1. Hemel was found dead on the spot. The untimely death of Himel has shocked the whole university family, including students. Another student was injured undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. Such an unfortunate event can never be desirable.
The untimely demise of a student who has not even crossed the university boundary has upset everyone. As a university teacher and parent of my children, I have been similarly miffed by the students' emotions. The students started protesting immediately after the accident, which was normal. Those who have not lost a loved one will not understand the pain of losing a loved one. Judging from that perspective, it was logical for the students to protest.
However, the Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University, Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar, could reduce the agony of the students who were derived by their emotions. We often see that in the event of an incident at a higher educational institution, the head of the institution does not first go to the scene himself but sends members of the proctorial body and at the same time sends members of the law enforcing agencies. Only when the situation aggravates to the great intensity they usually go to that place to control the situation. But in the last incident, we witnessed a completely different picture.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University was present at the accident scene from the very onset. He kept the police away from that spot. He even talked to the students himself, leaving the police stationed at his residence inside the gate. He assured to implement the demands of the students.
The students did not allow the police to take the dead body to the hospital in the protest. However, they changed their position and let the police take the body to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from the accident site.
Later he went to Rajshahi Medical College late at night. After discussing with the students, Himel's Namaje Janaza took place at the University central mosque the next day. Most importantly, he went to Natore in a hearse to deliver Himel's body, where he was buried at his maternal grandfather's residence.
The thing that struck me in the wake of the incident was the leadership coupled with the student-friendly attitude of the Vice-Chancellor in handling the movement. We have seen Vice-Chancellors of various universities using police to quell student protests. However, Rajshahi's situation was a reverse one. We know that the students became more reckless when the police attacked them, which are the main feature of our youth. As much as General Ershad suppressed the students in 1990, the movement gained more momentum.
Therefore, if the Vice-Chancellors want to solve any problem with a student-friendly mentality, the problem does not go too far, and the problem does not become a serious problem. In the face of student demands, the vice-chancellor removed his Proctor, which has somewhat satisfied the students because the resignation of the Proctor was one of their few demands. It was not the right time to ascertain whether the Proctor was liable or not; the Vice-Chancellor rightly showed respect to the students' demands and tried to quell the students' anguish on the spot.
We have to keep in mind that no one involved with the university family wishes for such an accident. And, of course, the accident that took place on the night of February 1 is not. We know that many development projects are being implemented at Rajshahi University. As a result, trucks ply on different roads within the campus to carry development project materials such as sand, bricks, stones and other materials. However, other than Paris Road, the streets are not wide enough.
As a result, it is time to learn from the recent experience and reduce the likelihood of such an unfortunate event happening in the future. We firmly believe that how the present Vice-Chancellor managed the situation in line with the demands of the students, he can take measures to stop such incidents in the future. He has made several decisions since taking office, which was also student-friendly.
There is no denying that the academic excellence of the Vice-Chancellor is required for the management of the university. At the same time, a student-friendly attitude of the VC is also necessary for the management of the students. Just as it is impossible to take a university to the pinnacle of teaching and research without academic excellence, the situation also gets out of control if the VC does not change his mindset to quell student protests or dissatisfaction. In the current context, the Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University is trying to take academic matters forward on the one hand, while his student-friendly attitude and leadership are trying to ensure the coexistence of all in the university family on the other. The university will move forward through the combination of these two.
We have to keep in mind that students are the university's lifeblood. The university will not function without students. Therefore, if the Vice-Chancellor as the guardian of the university, cannot properly understand the issues of grief, pain, emotion or frustration of the students, then the students will never be able to stay well there. Overall, the current VC of the university has shown a student-friendly mentality, and he deserves to be applauded. We hope that the university administration, having gained experience from the recent incident, will take all necessary steps to prevent such tragic incidents from happening on the Rajshahi University campus in future.
In the end, we cannot reduce the suffering that Himel's family will suffer through his death. The pain of losing a child cannot be subdued. However, the university administration should stand by Himel's family. If we could stand by Himel's mother in this difficult time, his mother would get mental strength on the one hand, and Himel's friends will get sympathy on the other hand. The University authority should also put their best efforts to ensure that the driver and helper get punished at the quickest possible time. This will bring peace to Himel's soul.
The author is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at Rajshahi University.
