Students go on rampage

An altercation between traders and Dhaka College students over the price of goods turned the entire area into a bloody battleground and brought traffic to a complete standstill on Mirpur road on December 17. We are informed by what has been reported in the press that in the clashes sparked off by agitated students of this most prestigious of colleges and that no one was spared -- pedestrians, shoppers and ordinary people of all shades and hues. Vehicles were set on fire and damaged and the police had to open fire to bring the situation under control.

We condemn this sort of wanton violence, especially when the city is held hostage to the whims of so-called students who act as if the area belongs to them. It is difficult to make out which party was to blame for the row, but it is hardly acceptable behaviour that students will come out brandishing weaponry and terrorise business houses and vent their anger on all. The vicinity of Dhaka College is one of the busiest junctions in the city and any untoward incident happening here causes gridlock in the rest of the city.

There are longstanding accusations levelled against certain college students of seeking protection money from ordinary traders who ply an honest trade on the roads and in shops around New Market area. And it is up to the police to get to the bottom of this recurring incident so that we may go about our daily business without being attacked.