President's DU Convocation speech and the present state of politics

President M Abdul Hamid in his speech at the 51st convocation of Dhaka University held at its campus on 6 October 2018 urged political parties in the country to bring qualitative changes in politics.

The president criticized the existing practice in which anybody can get an easy ride in politics nowadays. Everybody after retirement from government services as secretaries, army personnel, engineers, doctors, judges now want to enter politics, which tendency should be discouraged by the ruling and opposition parties.

Let them who have political aptitude from childhood remain in politics, he said emphatically. It does not look proper that somebody after retirement from government services at 67 years would join politics, become Minister. If election to Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) resumes, it will spread in all campuses countrywide. Students will take up leadership, and then this tendency of joining politics directly will be obstructed.

It was so before. Now when one becomes leader coming from where nobody knows; comes as an intruder and dig in with firmness.  It is to be stopped. There is a glimmer of hope for DUCSU election, which vested quarters in their mean interests, would try to sabotage. But, it will not be proper for them to deprive all male and female students. President asked all to remain alert so that nobody can obstruct this process.

There is a gulf of difference between students' politics of today and those up to 1960s when students' politics was ideology-based, no personal or group interest, led to the establishment of independent Bangladesh in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he recalled. Now it is the time to build country on the principles of equity and justice.

The new graduates will have to give leadership, spread ideals of higher education to humanity, in building proper and knowledge based society. Else, immoral competition would suffocate the society; keep moral humanitarian values at far distance.

 It is clearly seen general guardians and students are all in unanimity with the President who is also the Chancellor of the University. But, would it make the teachers concerned and look within to what extent they discharge their responsibilities to enlighten the students with knowledge and democratic pursuits in the campus, free of session jam, violence of all sorts, cold or hot, reported in media over time of decades?

Even the convocation speaker national Professor Dr Anisuzzaman evaded this responsibility and tended to shift responsibility to students! Then, why guardians should send their children and of the nation spending time and money to the Alma Mater?

It is violation of students' rights where teachers are busy with partisan activities, part time faculty of private universities, NGOs and other activities, having little time left impart knowledge and values for which they are appointed and paid salary status.

If so, only to get degrees deprived of the standard to differentiate between good and bad. Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman spoke for differentiation without self-introspection and responsibility of his Teachers Association who are proud of their annual election held regularly, but feel no shame for annual Hall and DUCSU election kept in abeyance. He becomes chief guest in public meetings, say last one at Suhrawardy Udyan on September 28, 2018 reported in front page of media, his contemporaries opine.

Be that as it may, Contemporaries strongly feel the new graduates, teachers and guests in the convocation have assimilated the speech of the President that they will implement in their respective sphere to the best of ability. The 11th Parliamentary election is knocking at the door; new graduates and their guardians will carry the message of President and Chancellor to all electoral constituencies of the country for quality politics.

Election Commission will not sit idle but run with time to make election free and fair and accountable to Opposition answering their questions neutrally, and earn their confidence. Actually we have two-party democracy, Electoral votes prove beyond doubt. Although 40 registered parties are on its record, rests are engaged in personal aggrandizement taking advantage of our sovereignty and globalization connections which are not beyond knowledge of Election Commission, who should take remedial actions and cleanse election and political field.

The President has shown the way how to set up competent candidates by the ruling Awami League as well as Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and it is now for them how to settle outstanding issues and come to terms. Contemporaries opine in any way BNP should contest, not boycott election, which the intriguers including partisan university teachers would incite as they are divided but united in self-interests.

Otherwise, if they were united for people, they would have been the best arbiter, which is not the case. Septuagenarians express inabilities in political and civil society domain beg excuse of their fellows Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and submit it to their considerations for disposal as deemed fit. Our best wishes to them.


The writer is an economist, advocate and social activist. Email:[email protected]