What drives students to such violence?

Professor Mahmood, a professor of English at the University of Science and Technology of Chittagong (USTC), was dragged outside of the classroom on July 2 by some students where he was assaulted and one student tried to set him afire by pouring kerosene on him. The student has been arrested by police. It is pointless to discuss the merits of the accusation against the professor because what transpired at USTC is criminal and we condemn the violence. There are peaceful ways to diffuse potentially dangerous situations like this, but violence, especially when there is intent to kill, cannot be condoned under any circumstances.

Reportedly, students have been agitating against the teacher in question since April 16 for his alleged use of classroom to deliver “obscene” lectures. What have the university authorities been doing all this time? We understand that authorities formed a probe committee last May and found nothing amiss in the teacher’s professional conduct. If that were the case, what could have instigated such a horrifying reaction by a section of the students? While we denounce the treatment the teacher has received, it is now a criminal case and the police need to do their own investigation into the matter. This incident will go down as a dark chapter in the history of violence in educational institutions in the country when students feel it within their rights to cause bodily harm to their teachers.