Instant Editorial: The BCL’s pleasant surprise

Sometimes miracles do happen. Such conviction comes from the recent expulsion of two top BCL men for "breaching party rules" as the report goes.

We can assume that brandishing arms in public and most importantly, getting photographed while doing it would be a violation of the code of conduct of the organisation.

A picture of the two top leaders was published in the front page of a Bengali daily, happily displaying their pistols during an eviction drive of hawkers in Gulistan conducted by police at the behest of the mayor.

READ MORE: Cops sue gun-toting Dhaka BCL leaders

Now, why would the student front of the ruling party be involved in an eviction drive, would be the obvious question.

But the reality is that such photographs have been published before too where members of student fronts of whatever the ruling party happened to be, were seen unabashedly carrying guns and machetes on various occasions during intraparty feuds, clashes with rival organisations on campus, clamp downs on protesters and so on.

Yet, being expelled for such blatantly gangster-like behaviour has not been something we have seldom seen.

READ MORE: 2 gun-toting BCL leaders expelled

Hence it is sheer delight to see that Chhatra League has taken the bold step apparently to punish members who have given the organisation a bad name. We do not know whether this is an one-off gesture or whether this is the result of the grand AL Council where promises of reform were made.

If it is the latter, it is certainly welcome news.

Members of the student fronts of political parties should not be used as goons to help repress the public or be given impunity when they abuse their power. Instead, there should be trainings for future leaders who will truly adhere to the mother party's values and become sincere champions who will work for the welfare of the people.

And when they go rogue, the organisation will take steps to punish such behaviour as has been the case this time. Is that wishful thinking? Well miracles do happen, you know!