The New Nation - Internet Edition

FOLLOWING the tragic death of Ashiqur Rahman, a second year student of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, in a road accident, the 'Sat Rasta' crossing near the institute virtually turned into a batte ground. The students clashed with riot police for the second consecutive day on Saturday. They took to the street, damaged several vehicles and blocked the Tejgaon diversion road bringing traffic to a standstill for hours. About a hundred people were injured. The institute has been closed for an indefinite period.

It is natural for the students to have deep feeling for Rahman. But the way they chose to express the same is completely unacceptable. The students could place their demands before the appropriate authority by confining their movements within the campus. They instead chose to cause inconveniences for the members of the public. It is not acceptable that the students will damage valuable properties and cause sufferings to the people. The members of the public are in no way responsible for the accident.

The 'Sat Rasta' crossing is a strategic point connecting very important highway to and from the capital city. Any further attempt to disrupt normal life on any ground should be nipped in the bud. The students must be brought under strict academic discipline.

Not in a distant past members of two rival groups of students of the same institute were locked in bloody clashes. Concerned authorities must find out the underlying reasons behind. The students must also understand that such violence does not pay ultimately. They themselves are to suffer in the end.