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C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2030 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR SOCI KCRM KDEM BG
SUBJECT: INCREASING STUDENT VIOLENCE RAISES ALARMS 
 
REF: DHAKA 132 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) A recent surge in student violence, and the ensuing 
crackdown on Islamic student groups, has raised concern that 
Bangladesh may witness a return to the violent political 
confrontations that preceded the January 2007 State of 
Emergency.  The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) announced a 
crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)'s student wing, Islami 
Chhatra Shibir (Shibir), after Shibir members brutally 
murdered one student and disabled four others who were all 
members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League.  Competition for 
money, power and influence have steadily undermined the 
legitimacy of all student political groups, which are often 
lionized for their leading role in past pro-democracy 
movements.    Increasingly, civil society has begun to call 
for a ban on student politics even as the parties continue to 
see their youth wings as potent weapons in their struggle for 
dominance. 
 
To the Winner Goes the Spoils 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Following a pattern set following earlier elections, 
the Awami League's student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League 
(BCL), has since the Awami League's return to power in 
January 2009 re-established control over most of Bangladesh's 
public universities and colleges.  Dr. Nazmul Ahsan 
Kalimullah, former Assistant Proctor at Dhaka University, 
explained to Poloff that the student wing with such control 
used its position to collect protection money.  The BCL 
during the last year extorted money from contractors, shops, 
and businesses operating on or near colleges and 
universities, manipulated tenders for government and 
university contracts, interfered with the enrollment of 
students not affiliated with the Awami League, and controlled 
the allocation of dormitory rooms. 
 
¶3.  (C) Dr. Kalimullah and a Dhaka University alumnus told 
Poloff that the BCL's recent behavior was particularly 
heavy-handed, even when  compared to the activities of other 
student wings when they were in power.  Both said this was 
especially true regarding the BCL's interference in 
university admissions.  The BCL often coerced prospective 
students into bypassing the normal admissions process in 
order to collect money from them in exchange for admission. 
Several colleges had to postpone repeatedly their admissions 
processing because of BCL threats and violence.  The BCL is 
allegedly responsible for eight of at least 11 student 
murders since January 2009, according to publish press 
reports.  Besides BCL attacks against rival student groups, 
internecine clashes for political and financial advantages 
among low and mid-level leaders within the group also rocked 
college campuses.  Senior Awami League leaders have claimed 
they were powerless to control BCL's actions. 
 
Dhaka University - A Center of Unrest 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Dhaka University, Bangladesh's largest university 
with about 30,000 students, is the historic center of gravity 
for student movements throughout the country's history. 
Clashes between the BCL and the Bangladesh Nationalist 
Party's (BNP'S) student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) 
broke out on Dhaka University's campus in late January 2010 
and continued sporadically into February.  Violence resulting 
from power struggles within the wings also occurred at Dhaka 
University.  On January 18, two factions of JCD fought on the 
campus for several hours injuring about 50 people, including 
the proctor of the university and the president of the JCD. 
Sultan Salauddin Tuku, President of the BNP's JCD, alleged 
the Awami League's BCL supported two "rebel JCD leaders" with 
weapons and personnel during their clash with the JCD 
leadership on January 18.  Photos of the clash showed 
individuals armed with machetes and a few pistols.  Shahid 
Uddin Chowdhury, the BNP's Student Affairs Secretary, former 
President of JCD, and current Member of Parliament, 
complained to Poloff that police on the scene did not protect 
JCD leaders from attackers, nor did they make any arrests or 
confiscate any weapons.  Chowdhury claimed the Awami League 
was ultimately behind the BCL's actions.  (Note: During the 
January 18 clash, JCD President Tuku suffered a serious head 
wound requiring stitches.  He was attacked within feet of 
police and the attacker managed to escape arrest.  The attack 
was photographed and the attacker identified.  Other 
individuals photographed holding weapons during that day's 
clashes were also identified.  Police arrested one of those 
identified only after several days of press reports 
criticizing police inaction.  End note.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Two competing BCL factions at Dhaka University 
fought each other on February 3 until police used tear gas to 
disrupt the combatants.  Abu Bakar Siddique, a student caught 
in the clash was killed during the incident.  After 
Siddique's death, Awami League General Secretary and GOB 
Spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam  alleged that Jamaat Islami's 
student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir (Shibir), had infiltrated 
the BCL and that it was they who had engaged in criminal 
acts.  Several journalists called Ashraf's comment 
"ridiculous" and said it was a ploy to shirk responsibility. 
Home Minister Shahara Khatun drew widespread criticism when 
she described the student's death as an isolated and unusual 
incident. 
 
Government Cracks Down on Shibir 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) On February 9, members of Shibir and BCL fought each 
other on the Rajshahi University campus in northwestern 
Bangladesh over control of a dormitory.  Shibir members 
brutally killed Faruk Hossain, a BCL activist, and dumped his 
body down a manhole.  Press reports stated Shibir members 
also attacked four other BCL members, allegedly cutting their 
tendons.  State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haq Tuku 
(who rose to prominence after defeating Jamaat Islami Ameer 
Matiur Rahman Nizami in the December 2008 Parliamentary 
elections) visited Rajshahi the following day and announced 
the launch of a countrywide sweep against JI and Shibir 
members.  Police arrested at least 364 people between 
February 11 - 14 during raids on Shibir and JI members' 
offices and homes. 
 
Awami League Leaders Attempt to Rein in BCL 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Following the latest string of violent student 
clashes, the press reported that PM Hasina and other senior 
AL figures warned BCL leaders and members to restrain 
themselves.  To emphasize this warning, the Prime Minister 
resigned her position as the formal head of the BCL.  The 
Home Minister reiterated publicly that the police would take 
drastic action against "trouble-makers" irrespective of party 
affiliation.  However, the GOB has yet to take decisive 
action against any BCL members involved in violent clashes, 
murder, corruption, or other crimes. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) The most recent spate of student violence only partly 
involved political maneuverings between rival political 
parties.  Much of the violence stems from the corrupt 
practices that various student wings developed over the last 
three decades to collect money and increase their power and 
influence.  That said, the failure of the government, despite 
its public statements and warnings, to investigate BCL 
members involved in criminal activities has undermined its 
credibility.  Such partisan behavior provides further 
incentive for the BNP to attempt to mobilize the public 
against the Awami League government.  If there is a silver 
lining to the recent violence, it can be found in increasing 
calls from civil society to depoliticize campuses and place 
restrictions on student political groups. 
MORIARTY