It's time to harness students’ energy for developing social capital

When students unite, they can accomplish the impossible, and the student community of the country has once again proven this. The student movement demanding quota reform in government jobs ultimately led to the resignation and departure of Bangladesh’s most powerful leader after 16 years in power – something unthinkable just a short while ago. This movement was initially dismissed with negative comments and ridicule from the highest levels of government. Yet, students have demonstrated that when united and unwavering in their goals, they can overcome any challenge.

The students' movement was entirely non-political, with most students, regardless of their affiliations, joining together in this effort. A unique aspect of this movement was the significant participation of students from private universities, in addition to those from public universities.

During the movement, nearly 1,000 people lost their lives. As the death toll rose, so did the momentum of the movement. This student movement in Bangladesh has become a model for many countries. In Pakistan, inspired by Bangladesh’s students, a similar movement has emerged, with Pakistani students chanting, "Who am I, who are you? Bangladesh, Bangladesh!" This rare achievement highlights the success of Bangladesh's student movement.

Student movements are not new in the history of Bangladesh. Since February 21, 1952, students in this country have repeatedly shed blood to achieve their demands. No movement has ever succeeded without the participation of students. However, the recent student movement was distinct in character from any past movements. After their demands were met, the students did not immediately return to their campuses or homes. Instead, they remained in the streets to help maintain law and order. They even took on the responsibility of managing traffic and, in some places, cleaning up accumulated garbage.

Additionally, they expressed their thoughts and sentiments to the nation by painting murals in various locations. Shortly after the student movement subsided, a devastating seasonal flood hit certain regions of the country, leaving millions homeless and hungry. Once again, students took to the field, forming small groups to collect donations and other relief materials for the flood victims. This is not the first time students have been involved in such humanitarian efforts.

At some point, the floodwaters will recede, and through collective efforts, we may recover from the damage. But what will become of the students who protested, managed traffic, and cleaned the streets? They will return to their respective institutions, but can we not make a deliberate effort to utilize the experience they gained during and after the movement?

The students' post-movement activities represent social capital. Social capital can be defined as the work done by citizens or any specific group in the greater national interest without expecting any personal gain. In the past, there were many examples of social capital utilization in rural areas. Those who were born in the villages and are older in age are likely well aware of social capital.

During harvest season, there was often a severe shortage of agricultural labor in the villages. Many families could not bring in their crops due to the lack of workers. At such times, those who had never worked in the fields or were more relaxed would band together to help the farmers bring in their crops. These were not ordinary laborers, but they took on the role of farmworkers to assist households in need, without expecting any payment. However, the farmers would arrange a good meal for them, and everyone would participate in the feast with great enthusiasm.

Similarly, if a bridge or culvert in an area was damaged and government funds were delayed, the villagers would come together and complete the repairs through voluntary labor. These are examples of social capital. The people of Bangladesh are traditionally inclined toward mutual cooperation, and whenever they get the chance, they are eager to help others in need. However, due to the short-sightedness of those who lead society, social capital cannot be harnessed in an organized way.

Political leaders in the country, regardless of party affiliation, rarely take steps to unite everyone for the national interest. Instead, they create political divisions among the people and remain preoccupied with their narrow interests. They often incite members of one party against another and enjoy the ensuing conflicts. However, if they were more generous toward their opponents, everyone could work together to utilize social capital.

The rural population has increasingly become self-centered, unwilling to think beyond their own welfare. If the path to developing social capital is blocked in this way, the nation could face serious challenges in the future. To prevent the loss of social capital, we need to act now and take all possible measures to foster its growth. A good starting point would be to involve the students who participated in the recent quota reform movement. They have already proven that, given the right environment and leadership, they can complete any task, no matter how small, with great skill and dedication.

People hesitate to take on certain jobs, no matter how simple they may be. For instance, an educated youth in Bangladesh may be unwilling to work as a waiter in a local restaurant, but that same person might have no problem working as a waiter abroad. Similarly, many Bangladeshis who clean streets in Middle Eastern countries would not have considered doing such work back home, often due to social stigma.

In foreign countries, no job is considered too small. Unfortunately, the education system in Bangladesh has never been oriented toward employment. As a result, even after earning the highest degrees, students do not have guaranteed job opportunities. If vocational and technical education were made mandatory, students could create their own employment opportunities instead of depending on others for jobs.

The country and the nation have a responsibility to those who led the recent movement for quota reform. If efforts are made to rehabilitate them, the nation could fulfill part of its obligation. While it may not be possible to provide jobs for all the students involved in the movement, alternative programs could be implemented. One such initiative could be the formation of "Student Brigades" in every neighborhood and village, starting with a comprehensive list of secondary school students. Each brigade could consist of 100 students, including girls. Political biases should be set aside when forming these committees.

Members of the brigade should receive a monthly stipend sufficient to cover their personal expenses. They would continue their regular studies but would also participate in training programs organized by their schools during holidays. These training programs could cover areas such as freelancing, computer skills, sewing, and boutique work. Additionally, military training should be made mandatory from the ninth grade onward. The budget for education could be slightly increased to cover the costs of such programs.

Furthermore, if we could curb some of the vast sums of money that are earned through corruption and smuggled abroad each year, it would provide sufficient funds to support these initiatives. Bangladeshi students are inherently creative, capable of achieving success in any task. However, there seems to be no concerted effort to harness their creativity.

National-level politicians are often very selfish, focused only on their own interests. Throughout various movements, from the days of Pakistan to the present, countless students have lost their lives, yet it is hard to find a single example of a national leader losing a child in such movements.

Most of these politicians send their children to study abroad. Even if their children remain in Bangladesh, they are kept away from the frontlines of movements and struggles. If a politician has never lost a child in a movement, how can they understand the pain of such a loss? If student brigades were formed, they could contribute significantly to the country's socio-economic development. These brigades could also play an active role in curbing social crimes. Currently, there is a growing "teen gang" culture in various areas, but the formation of student brigades could help reduce this trend.

A code of conduct could be established for members of the student brigades, including rules such as no smoking, no eve-teasing, respect for elders, and no involvement in hooliganism. Those who violate the code of conduct could be removed from the brigade. This would discourage them from engaging in social misconduct. In the event of any natural or man-made disaster, the student brigades could be mobilized immediately. Their efforts to assist flood victims could serve as an example. Laws could be enacted to facilitate such initiatives.

If students are trained to use social capital from their school years, they will play a vital role in the future development of the country and the nation.

M.A. Khalek: Retired General Manager, Bangladesh Development Bank PLC, and Economic Writer.